UNC Greensboro Will Dedicate Building for $14M Gift

The School of Education will be named for Harriet and Jerome Evenson during a ceremony on September 24, 2026.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Scholarships

UNC Greensboro Will Dedicate Building for $14M Gift

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UNC Greensboro plans to dedicate its School of Education building on September 24, 2026, in honor of a historic $14 million estate gift. This donation from the late Harriet Shain Evenson marks the largest single gift ever received by the university.

Why it matters

The university is honoring the legacy of long-term supporters Harriet and Jerome Evenson, whose generous contribution provides critical, permanent funding for academic programs and student aid. This gift ensures continued support for the Jewish Studies program and the scholarship bearing their names.

The $14 million donation is the largest gift in the history of the university. This follows an initial $25 contribution made by Harriet Shain Evenson in 1985.

The players

Harriet Shain Evenson

A 1953 alumna of the Woman's College who passed away in 2025 at age 94.

Jerome Evenson

The husband of Harriet Shain Evenson who passed away in 1999 at age 70.

UNC Greensboro

A public university in Greensboro, N.C., that is honoring the legacy of the Evenson family.

The details

The funds will support the Jewish Studies program, a new professorship, and the Harriet Shain & Jerome Evenson Endowed Scholarship. The dedication ceremony officially recognizes the couple's longstanding commitment to the institution, starting with Harriet Evenson's graduation in 1953.

Harriet Evenson graduated from the Woman's College in 1953.
Harriet Evenson provided her first gift of $25 in 1985.
Jerome Evenson passed away on Nov. 15, 1999.
The university established the Evenson education scholarship in 2005.
UNC Greensboro will dedicate the School of Education building on Sept. 24, 2026.

Culture Shift

This gift follows the upward trend of multi-million dollar estate bequests identified in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's Voluntary Support of Education survey. It reflects a growing shift toward legacy-based philanthropy at public institutions.

Future students will benefit from expanded access to the Harriet Shain & Jerome Evenson Endowed Scholarship. The funding also creates a new professorship, which is expected to enhance the academic quality and program depth within the School of Education.

The takeaway

This donation highlights the long-term impact that individual donors can have on public university resources over several decades. Prospective students looking for financial aid should regularly review endowment-funded opportunities available through their specific academic departments.