Wharton School Announces $6 Million Gift from Alumna Judith Bollinger and William Bollinger for Scholarship and Fellowship Support

Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 10, 2006 -- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania announced a $6 million gift from alumna, Judith Bollinger (née Comeau), and her husband, William. Judith Bollinger is a director and strategic planning consultant for ABG Sundal Collier, a firm providing investment banking, stock brokerage and corporate advisory services for international investors and Nordic corporate clients. Half of the Bollingers’ gift will be designated to establish the Judith and William Bollinger Endowed Scholarship, with the other $3 million creating the Judith and William Bollinger Endowed Fellowship.

"Increasing access to education is a major priority of the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania,” stated Wharton School Dean Patrick Harker. “The Bollingers’ generosity will bring many deserving students to study here for their roles as leaders in the global economy."

The Judith and William Bollinger Endowed Scholarship Fund will be awarded to undergraduates at the School with preference given to international students. The Judith and William Bollinger Fellowship Fund will be used to benefit MBA students with preference given to international students.

Judith Bollinger stated, “A Wharton education is a life-long treasure, providing skills, confidence and a sense of responsibility. It provides the framework for a thoughtful and purposeful life, a life that can take on the challenges that business and government face today. Open access to these opportunities is a goal Bill and I share with Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania.”

Judith Bollinger is a 1981 graduate of Wharton’s MBA program, and has been a member of the Executive Board for Europe, Africa and the Middle East since 2001. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at ABG Sundal Collier. ABG Sundal Collier is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices in London, New York, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Bergen.

The Bollingers have a long history of support for the Wharton School. They funded a visiting professorship in 1987. In addition, they have supported Wharton’s European Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, which researches corporate ethics and responsible investment in Europe and the United States.

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school — is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The school has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 8,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of more than 81,000 graduates.

Wharton at 125