The Lubner Scholarships: Looking Back … and Paying Forward
In a recent interview, Wayne Lubner ’71 talked about what he gained from his undergraduate days at St. Norbert:
“What I took away from St. Norbert College was a great feeling of friendship – a great feeling of fellowship. Some of the best days of my life were spent here. Some people come out of school merely with academic credentials; at St. Norbert, I came out with a lot of life lessons. … [St. Norbert] teaches students the balance of life, and what friendships and relationships mean.”
But it wasn’t just an appreciation for the past that led Wayne and his wife, Terese (Emer) Lubner ’74, to establish the Frank and Lucille Lubner Endowed Scholarship for Business Administration and the Bernard and Mary Emer Endowed Scholarship for Education at St. Norbert … they were looking toward the future, as well.
As Wayne said: “St. Norbert is all about creating the climate and opportunities for young people to innovate and do great things. When you talk about homelessness, poverty, natural disasters … the people who are creating solutions are products of the American educational system. So what we’re talking about is an investment not only in the future of the students, but in the future of our country – because innovation is going to come from people who are well-prepared, well-balanced and thoughtful. And St. Norbert leads the way.”
The scholarships, named in honor of Wayne and Terese’s late parents, will give priority to first-generation college students. That holds special meaning for the Lubners, both of whom were first-generation themselves. As Terese notes, while her parents never had the opportunity to attend college, “they worked hard to ensure that higher education became a reality for their four children. They were firm believers in the value of faith, knowledge, service and generosity to others.”
“What I took away from St. Norbert College was a great feeling of friendship – a great feeling of fellowship. Some of the best days of my life were spent here. Some people come out of school merely with academic credentials; at St. Norbert, I came out with a lot of life lessons. … [St. Norbert] teaches students the balance of life, and what friendships and relationships mean.”
But it wasn’t just an appreciation for the past that led Wayne and his wife, Terese (Emer) Lubner ’74, to establish the Frank and Lucille Lubner Endowed Scholarship for Business Administration and the Bernard and Mary Emer Endowed Scholarship for Education at St. Norbert … they were looking toward the future, as well.
As Wayne said: “St. Norbert is all about creating the climate and opportunities for young people to innovate and do great things. When you talk about homelessness, poverty, natural disasters … the people who are creating solutions are products of the American educational system. So what we’re talking about is an investment not only in the future of the students, but in the future of our country – because innovation is going to come from people who are well-prepared, well-balanced and thoughtful. And St. Norbert leads the way.”
The scholarships, named in honor of Wayne and Terese’s late parents, will give priority to first-generation college students. That holds special meaning for the Lubners, both of whom were first-generation themselves. As Terese notes, while her parents never had the opportunity to attend college, “they worked hard to ensure that higher education became a reality for their four children. They were firm believers in the value of faith, knowledge, service and generosity to others.”