Amherst College gifted with $6M

By Kristin Palpini
Staff Writer

Published on March 02, 2007

An Amherst College alumnus has pledged $6 million to the liberal arts college to start a scholarship program for low-income African and Latin American students and improve recruitment in these countries for the college.

The $6 million gift will be made over the next six years by Arthur W. Koenig, a 1966 Amherst graduate.

The gift will establish the Koenig Scholarship Fund, which will cover the cost of attending the college for five African or Latin American students every year; provide academic support for the students; and sponsor annual recruitment trips from the college to those regions.

"This is one of the biggest single gifts we've ever received," said Paul Statt, director of media relations at Amherst College.

"In his life experience, Mr. Koenig has seen the world and it has shown him that there are needy and talented students everywhere."