Sam Schroeder ’98 and Bridget Thorson Schroeder ’98

Sam Schroeder ’98 and Bridget Thorson Schroeder ’98  wanted to connect with Cornell and took a personal route. They established the Schroeder Fellowship in Art, which provides funding for experiential learning.

In the first year this meant Michael Johnson ’12 spent two months in Puerto Cayo in Ecuador on Project Oscar, a tourism initiative linked to community mural projects. The second fellow, Henry Hundt ’13, spent last summer in Clinton, Mass., working for the Museum of Russian Icons.

“We’re never likely to be donating a million dollars, but we were looking for some creative way to make a difference,” said Sam. “We wanted something that would connect us to a student, make it more personal.”

Sam and Bridget both received scholarships and quickly acknowledge the value of their liberal arts education. One idea for giving back was to organize an internship at the Minneapolis-based technology firm where Sam works, Code 42 Software. An exchange with RJ Holmes-Leopold ’99, a friend from Cornell days and now director of the Career Engagement Center, steered them to sponsoring a Cornell Fellow.

Sam liked the idea of helping someone in art, which was one of his majors. “My father was a high school art teacher and potter for 40 years,” he said. “I want to support the arts as much as I can, especially now with high schools cutting back on art and music programs.”

Bridget was an elementary education major and home-schools their three daughters, ages 11, 8, and 3. Now, through their Cornell Fellowship, the Cornell couple shares an interest in even more students receiving an education.