Investing in Excellence: The Gray Family Endowed Scholarship

Nick Gray '81 picked Union, sight unseen, after interviewing with an admissions counselor at his boarding school in New Hampshire. He did visit campus two months later in June 1977 and has never second-guessed his decision.

"The smaller liberal arts environment attracted me to Union, and I appreciated being able to blend my math background and engineering through the applied mathematics degree that I earned," Nick reflected. "When my parents and I stopped to see the campus in 1977, we parked beside the Psi Upsilon house - now Beuth House. There were two platform tennis courts right across from the house, and I ended up pledging Psi U and playing platform tennis, which was a huge stress reliever during exam times."

Nick ultimately became president of Psi U, and although he had a hard time accepting the loss of his fraternity at Union, he and his wife, Christine, reconnected with the College when their son, Ian '24, decided to study here.

"As a family, we've had a great adventure at Union. Ian did the Germany term abroad, and even during the pandemic his first year, six of his nine classes were in person," Nick said. "He had a wonderful experience all around, and right now, he's rooming with a Union friend while he pursues his goal of becoming a psychiatrist."

To honor their Union bonds, Nick and Christine have founded The Gray Family Endowed Scholarship through their estate plans.

"Christine and I have strong feelings about charitable giving and volunteering. I volunteered as an adult leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. I was a scout master when Ian became an Eagle Scout," Nick said. "I volunteer for local organizations and help with their fundraising. After Ian picked Union, it reinvigorated my interest in supporting the College. I feel strongly about giving back to the organizations that are important to me."

And Union has always been important to him - professionally and personally.

When Nick graduated from Union, the job market was difficult. After scouring the classifieds each week for months and preparing his applications on a typewriter, he finally landed a spot in AT&T's programmer training program with a job placement at the end. His degree in applied mathematics was vital to the career in information technology that followed.

"For that, I'm indebted to Union," Nick said. "I went on to a successful career and have always been thankful for the executive thinking skills I acquired through my role as president of Psi U, as I managed our fraternity and dealt with the other Greek organizations and Union's administration."

"I also made lifelong friends at Union," he added. "My best friend's birthday is the day before mine in July, and we talk on a regular basis. Even when my Union friends and I don't see each other for a long time, it's like we never missed a beat."

Now retired, Nick enjoys going for long walks.

"We live in a relatively small town so invariably I run into a half dozen people I know, and it's good to socialize and stay active and connected to my community."