Jack Shingleton, a former MSU administrator and Board of Trustees member, was entitled to a relaxing retirement. Instead, at the request of two anonymous donors, he chose to devote countless hours for more than 12 years to help them establish the STARR Charitable Foundation scholarship and ensure the success of its recipients.
Seeking a way to show the inestimable appreciation they have for him and to honor his spirit of service, the current STARR scholars recently made a pledge to establish the Jack Shingleton Endowed Scholarship Fund to help future Spartans. Past and present STARR scholars fondly acknowledge that Jack’s compassion, kindness and belief in them provided constant support to always “stretch themselves,” the playful exhortation for which Jack is renowned.
“If you sit down and have a conversation with Mr. Shingleton, he gives you a sense of the untapped potential within you, and then makes you ask yourself what can you do with that potential to help others,” said STARR Scholar Jeremy Randle, who helped spearhead the scholarship initiative. “When the idea of an endowment in his name was f loated, I felt that seeing it through to fruition is at least a partial answer to that question, and I hope this endowment provides others with the inspiration to use some of their own potential to help improve the world around them.”
Since 1998, the STARR scholars, all residents of Wyoming, have received a life-changing opportunity to attend Michigan State for four years with all regular costs covered. From the beginning, Jack provided guidance. The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, stipulated that STARR scholars demonstrate academic achievement, as well as distinguished personal character and leadership ability.
“Jack believes in people using their knowledge not simply for themselves, but also for others in whatever role they play,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon at a recent gathering of the STARR scholars where the endowment was announced. “Jack feels that the values represented by the STARR scholar criteria are critical to the prosperity not simply of Wyoming and MSU, but the U.S. and the world.”
Fittingly, a requirement to demonstrate character and leadership will be echoed in the Jack Shingleton Endowed Scholarship.
“Jack has this great ability to be supportive of our accomplishments in a way that instills a confidence that we are capable of much greater things,” according to STARR Scholar Megan Gebhart. “Jack’s influence is a major factor in my success at MSU and it is incredibly exciting to have an opportunity to help others in the way that Jack has helped me.”
In Jack’s long and distinguished administrative career with MSU, he was a nationally recognized leader in career services as well as a respected manager, whose skills were repeatedly called upon to f ill key interim assignments, including as athletics director. Yet, he still points to his involvement with the STARR scholars as an MSU highlight.
For more information about making a gift to University Scholarships and Fellowships, contact Director of Development Jennifer Bertram at (517) 432-7332; bertram9@msu.edu.