AUGUST 14 MEDIA RELEASE — Bluffton University is honored to be the recipient of a $500,000 grant payable over the next five years. The grant is provided by The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation. These funds will be in addition to the two $4,000 annual Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarships Bluffton already awards and will provide an added $100,000 of yearly support to Bluffton students interested in STEM and related fields.

The Knowlton Foundation's primary mission is to promote and advance higher education in the U.S. through direct grants and contributions to qualified colleges and universities. In the past the Foundation has supported Bluffton University by providing the naming gift for the Austin E. Knowlton Science Center and has provided grants to create an endowment fund to provide scholarships for Bluffton students.

Edward Diller, a Trustee for The Knowlton Foundation, stated, "As an activist higher education philanthropist, we're acutely aware of the affordability-value crisis across colleges and universities, and we are deploying funds that schools can use immediately to reduce net costs to students. Our priority with this particular Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship program is to provide funding to schools that are positioning themselves for longer-term success but which will benefit materially in the short term by boosting scholarship aid. The Knowlton Foundation is pleased to continue its relationship with Bluffton University."

Austin E. Knowlton was the owner of Knowlton Construction Company, established in Bellefontaine in 1937. During his lifetime, he designed and built more than 600 buildings, including more than 160 college and university buildings across Ohio. Widely recognized for his philanthropic leadership, including a special interest in supporting education, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation continues to carry on his interest in providing support for higher education.

"These funds align with Bluffton University's mission to prepare students ‘for life as well as vocation,'" said Dr. Alex Sider, president of Bluffton University. "They not only make a Bluffton education more accessible but also allow us to meet the academic needs of students in high-demand fields. We are grateful to The Knowlton Foundation for this powerful endorsement of our programs."

The $500,000 grant will support students with financial need who show strong academic promise, with a focus on those pursuing STEM or related fields. Preference will be given to returning Knowlton Scholars in good academic standing, followed by first-year students from Ohio, then students from nearby states including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan, and finally any returning Bluffton University student from Ohio. 

Students entering Bluffton in fall 2025-26 are eligible to take part in these scholarship funds. The Knowlton Scholarship Program enhances Bluffton's ability to support students driven not only by academic success but also by a desire to lead lives of purpose and service.

"This is an incredible opportunity for our students' pursuing majors in STEM and more," said Claire Kleman, interim vice president for advancement and enrollment management. "We're grateful to The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation for its investment in the future of Bluffton and in the lives of students who will make a difference in their communities and professions."