LSE ALUMNI
$1 million boost to entrepreneurship
The Spangenberg Family Foundation has made its second significant philanthropic contribution to support LSE by generously pledging $1,000,000 for LSE entrepreneurs. The gift will provide seed money for student business ideas as well as support for entrepreneurship activities at LSE, which may include idea generation, learning and development, and networking. The funding follows an endowed gift for the Spangenberg Family Foundation Scholarship in 2011. The Spangenberg Family Foundation is a Dallas-based philanthropic foundation established by LSE alumnus Erich Spangenberg (MSc International Relations 1982), his wife Audrey and their son Christian (all pictured). The Foundation gives to vulnerable members of society and focuses on education, healthcare and entrepreneurship. Audrey Spangenberg, chair of the Foundation, said: “We believe strongly that there needs to be more opportunity for students to achieve exposure to entrepreneurship and greater access for a globally more diverse group of students, and that LSE is the best platform in the world to cultivate excellence in this field.” She added: “Erich invariably says that LSE was a transformational experience for him. It is our sincere hope that our gift will permit more LSE students to have the opportunity to come to the same realisation and set upon a journey to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”
Bursary support for Cape Town July School
The inaugural LSE-UCT July School was held this summer at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa, attended by 100 participants from more than 30 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. The two-week programme offered six courses focused on major social science issues, all with relevance to Africa today. These included “Africa and the Global Economy” and “The Causes of Poverty”. Philanthropic support for bursaries was a key factor in enabling many of the students to attend the July School. Standard Bank are supporting up to 34 students over three years up to 2015, while Giacomo Bruzzo (BSc Philosophy 1994, MSc Economics 1996, MSc Statistics 1997) has given £7,000
for bursaries for residents of African countries who wish to attend in 2014. In addition the Annual Fund is providing £75,000 over three years to support at least 10 current LSE students per year to attend. Attendees came from as far as the US, China and the UK, as well as from 11 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. “What happened inside the classroom was only half the story of this programme,” said Ban Nadler, a master’s student from the University of Missouri, writing for the Africa at LSE blog. “The other half was a profound and wild introduction to an amazing African city, with a new squad of friends from around the globe at the helm.”
Three alumni honoured at event for benefactors the event, their names were added to
Bill Bottriell (BSc Economics 1978) and Richard Karl Goeltz (General Course 1963) were honoured at an annual event held in September to celebrate the leadership giving of some
of the School’s most significant donors. Along with Professor Saw Swee Hock (PhD Statistics 1963), who made a landmark gift to the student centre in 2012 but was sadly unable to attend
the School’s Benefactors’ Board, which is situated in the entrance lobby of the Old Building. The alumni were also presented with plaques at the event to demonstrate the School’s gratitude for their landmark support. Bill Bottriell founded the Bottriell Scholarships in 2002, and since then has been influential in providing opportunities for underprivileged UK students to study at LSE. His latest renewal ensures that more students will
follow in the footsteps of the 20 scholars whose dreams of higher education have been realised through his support. Richard Goeltz’s support has established the Adeline and Karl Goeltz and the Richard Karl Goeltz Scholarships which provide vital opportunities for PhD students in the Departments of Economics, Accounting and Finance. He has also made unrestricted gifts to the School and gifts towards the Library and the New Academic Building.
Bill Bottriell (left) and Richard Goeltz (right) with LSE Director, Professor Craig Calhoun
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Winter 2013
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LSE Connect
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