Noora Neiroukh

At the Oct. 17 Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting, the Oakland University Honors College accepted a $10M donation on behalf of Donna and Walt Young. The board formally approved the renaming of the former Honors College to the Donna and Walt Young Honors College – making it the first named school in OU’s history.

The gift marks the donors, Donna and Walt Young, confidence in Oakland University and specifically, the students within the Honors College. The HC was established almost 50 years ago, in 1977, and the school continues to engage students in scholarly research and community engagement. This fall, the Honors College welcomed 664 new freshmen, making it the largest number of Honors College students in school history.

In 1997, Walt Young was appointed to the Oakland University Foundation Board, currently known as the Board of Trustees. During that time, he and his wife, Donna, made their first donation to the university. Together, they also established the Donna and Walt Young Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship Fund – a scholarship that provides financial assistance to students in the Honors College studying abroad. Additionally, the pair has been supportive with various other fundraising efforts for OU, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Keeper of the Dream scholarship event.

“Donna and I have been involved with Oakland University for the last three decades, during which we have seen the growth of character, as well as enrollment. OU has sharpened its focus to nurture future leaders with solid values,” Walt Young said. “The Honors College has been the lead to enhance problem-solving, listening and empathy skills, and we have enjoyed watching the impact of our study abroad scholarship endowment.”

The Youngs expressed wishes that this donation will further develop the advancement of OU, with the hope that this funding will help shape the leaders of the nation.

“We are pleased that we are able to assist in further developing the Honors College to be the best in the country as OU educates our future leaders to lead Michigan and the nation,” Walt Young said.

President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz emphasized the importance of this donation and the lasting impact it will have on the campus community.

“Donna and Walt Young are the epitome of OU’s most passionate advocates and supporters.  They are humble in their service to our students and through the impact they make in the community around them,” Pescovitz said. “I am honored that we can steward their legacy, one that values worldly experiences, provides the tools for students to become active partners in building a vibrant community and encourages exploration and interdisciplinary thought.”

Graeme Harper, dean of the Honors College, reflected on the importance of the Young’s philanthropy. 

“The generosity of Donna and Walt Young brings us an incredible opportunity. It is an investment in student achievement. It is an inspiration to us all to aim higher and to achieve more,” Harper said. “They have gifted more than a name. They have supported a vision that will change the lives of every student who walks through these doors.”

As of now, there are no confirmed plans as to what the donation will fund, except for the plans that the funds will go toward helping students in the Honors College further their education.