Ilene G. and Richard D. Sheffer Rwandese Scholarship

Indiana University South Bend General

During the 1994 Rwanda Civil War, Ilene Sheffer helped 45 Rwandese college students studying in Michigan and Indiana stay in school and avoid deportation to Rwanda, where their deaths were all but certain. This endowed scholarship fund was created to support the Rwandese students’ descendants as well as other IU South Bend undergraduate students.

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Ilene G. and Richard D. Sheffer Rwandese Scholarship

Indiana University South Bend General

During the 1994 Rwanda Civil War, Ilene Sheffer helped 45 Rwandese college students studying in Michigan and Indiana stay in school and avoid deportation to Rwanda, where their deaths were all but certain. This endowed scholarship fund was created to support the Rwandese students’ descendants as well as other IU South Bend undergraduate students.

Additional Info

Ilene Sheffer, retired vice chancellor for University Advancement at IU South Bend, and her husband, Richard (Rick) Sheffer, inspired the creation of this scholarship because of their belief in helping educate the next generation of leaders, especially those with Rwandan roots.

Income from gifts to this fund will be used to support undergraduate scholarships for IU South Bend students, with preference given to children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of individuals in the Michiana area whose families were affected by the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Secondary preference will be given to relatives of Rwandan students who studied at Southwestern Michigan College or IU South Bend and moved back to Rwanda.

Thank you for supporting these future leaders and difference-makers!

Your giving matters

This scholarship helped me a lot. I remember I didn’t have money for buying textbooks at that time. When I received the scholarship, I felt that my prayers had been answered. I would like to thank Ilene and Rick for their kind hearts.

Melyse Ishimwe 2022 scholarship recipient

Important Disclosures

Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.

This account is an endowment. Your gifts to this fund will be invested in perpetuity to provide annual income to support the purpose of the account. Per Indiana University Foundation, Inc. policy, endowment accounts which do not ultimately become fully funded at the required minimum through pledges/gifts will be converted to an expendable account supporting the same purpose as the original endowed fund.