Gift from Nayden Family Supports Business School’s Pursuit of Excellence
This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Spring 2014)
A fondness for their days at UConn, and their desire to help young people have similar experiences, prompted Denis ’76, ’77 and Britta ’76 Nayden to establish a $1 million scholarship program specifically for college athletes who share the family’s interest in business, physical therapy or kinesiology.
“We are proud UConn grads and this is our way to share and give back, which we both believe in,” Denis Nayden said. Their $1 million gift for scholarships was part of a $3 million pledge to the University that includes $1 million for the Basketball Champions Center and a $1 million challenge grant to match support for the center from former Husky basketball players.
“Philanthropic support like this is absolutely essential to the School of Business and to UConn,” said Dean John A. Elliott. “Support for scholarships plays an absolutely vital role in recruiting the best students to UConn. The availability and generosity of a scholarship is often a crucial factor in a student’s decision about college choice. Private giving for scholarship allows the School of Business to continue to attract the most qualified students and support them while they are here.”
UConn President Susan Herbst also welcomed the generous philanthropic support from the Naydens. “UConn’s new academic plan sets impressive goals for the next decade for research, scholarship and undergraduate and graduate education, all designed to raise UConn to the ranks of the world’s greatest universities,” she said. “Private support from our alumni and friends, such as this gift from the Naydens, is absolutely essential in our journey.”
The Naydens graduated from UConn in 1976, Denis with a BA from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Britta with a BS from the School of Allied Health, now part of the Neag School of Education. Denis received his MBA from the School of Business in 1977, and went on to a successful career with GE and Oak Hill Capital Management, where he currently serves as managing partner. He has served on UConn’s Board of Trustees since 2001 and also has worked diligently on a variety of committees for the UConn Foundation.
“Our donation to the basketball center is an investment in a great program. Our challenge grant is meant to encourage participation by former players, who fully understand the spirit of competition, and our scholarship gift is designed to support student athletes, who share our interest in business, physical therapy or kinesiology. Its support for a great program and for giving young people a shot at a great education, wrapped up in a big UConn bow,” Denis Nayden added.
The incoming freshmen in the Class of 2017 were the most academically accomplished group to enter UConn in its history. With an average SAT score of 1233, they outpaced the preceding year’s incoming freshmen, whose average of 1226 had set the previous record. The increase in high performing students is a key factor in UConn’s rise from number 27 in the 2010 US. News & World Report to number 19 in 2013, said Elliott.
“We are so grateful and so proud that our alumni understand that support for scholarship helps the School of Business attract the kinds of students and scholars who elevate its stature,” according to Elliott.
Note: Denis Nayden is a member of the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame and has been a distinguished speaker at recent School of Business ceremonies.
