For more than 20 years, Geralynn Smith directed experiential learning at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Wayne State University. In that capacity, she observed firsthand what it meant for students to have the opportunity to deliver quality care and service to their patients and the community and to develop themselves as leaders. Shortly after her retirement in 2011, Geralynn and her husband, Alan Smith, established a scholarship to benefit pharmacy students who thrive in patient care and seek to serve the community, especially vulnerable populations.

"My scholarship is not about financial need," Geralynn said. "It's about supporting students who excel in the profession and who are actively involved in service and leadership in their communities."

Geralynn personally understands the importance of scholarships because she received one as a student at Rutgers University. She still credits former associate dean Richard Slaughter with inspiring her to create a scholarship at Wayne State. "He was the one who put the seed in my brain," she said.

Her husband, Alan, was supportive of the idea. "I think the cost burden these students are under is really very significant," he said. "Students can't work their way through school anymore. We're doing what we can to give them a break."

A planned gift was the right instrument to achieve Geralynn and Alan's vision. They worked with their financial advisor and the planned giving team at Wayne State to establish the scholarship in a way that worked with their financial goals. "I thought, 'Okay, this is the time to figure out if we can do it,'" Geralynn said. "And in 2013, we decided to give through an IRA rollover."

The best outcome, Geralynn said, would be inspiring a scholarship recipient to fund a scholarship as well. "I hope we're encouraging the 'pay it forward' principle."

---

Scholarships encourage students to achieve their goals. For more information about creating a scholarship fund in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, contact Jon Goldstein at 313-577-1095 or jgoldstein@wayne.edu.