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In 2000, Louise and Charles Theiller chose to honor their late daughter, Patricia Theiller Franklin ’86, by establishing an endowed scholarship fund for nursing students.
While Louise ’86 was a non-traditional student who worked toward her degree in business for more than a decade, coincidentally the timing worked out so that both she and her daughter, a nursing major, graduated from William Paterson the same year. Patricia, a nurse, died of a malignant brain tumor at age 33.
“She loved William Paterson and the nursing program was an important part of her life,” says Louise. The couple decided that the best way they could memorialize their daughter was through a series of scholarships to help other nursing students.
In December 2017, the Theillers chose to establish a new scholarship in their own names. The Louise and Charles Theiller Endowed Scholarship Fund is designated for students majoring in biology or biotechnology.
“It’s inspiring to meet the students and hear their stories,” adds Charles, who selected the biology and biotech fields because he feels they have a "promising future."
Over the years, the Theillers have attended many scholarship dinners. “We’ve given out more than 60 scholarships, and we’re impressed with meeting the students, hearing about their accomplishments and what they plan to do with their lives,” says Louise. At one recent scholarship dinner, Patricia’s two daughters, now grown, joined their grandparents to meet the recipients of their mother’s scholarship.
The Theillers look forward to attending many scholarship dinners in the future. Meeting the students and learning how meaningful it is to each scholarship recipient has made a difference in their own lives.
