Development
John and Ann Barbara Petro Scholarship linked to donor’s Polish ancestry
For John and Ann Barbara Petro, ties to their Polish immigrant ancestry were strong and enduring. They passed that heritage on to their daughter, Linda Petro Ulrey (BA ’72). To honor their love of Poland and commitment to the value of education, Petro Ulrey and husband, Laurence Ulrey, MD (BS ’71), established an endowed scholarship, named in memory of her parents.
Created in early 2006, the John and Ann Barbara Petro Scholarship will be awarded annually to students in the Broad School who are in good standing and who have demonstrated academic excellence. In addition, qualifying students will have attended a school in Poland, or share ancestry with persons who have lived in Poland.
“The presence of students in our classrooms who have study abroad experiences or background in another culture enriches the Broad School experience for all students. The Petro Scholarship will further enhance an international, multicultural campus here at the Broad School,” says Dean Robert Duncan.
“I grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan, at a time when that enclave boasted the largest concentration of Polish immigrants in the United States, and it remains a significant Polish community to this day,” says Petro Ulrey, an operations director at DaimlerChrysler. “This award does two things for me: It honors my late parents, recognizing their strong focus on education – and helps other young people who share my background – kids, who are like me when I entered Michigan State University. It’s important to give back.”