WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement today regarding news that Le Moyne College in Syracuse has received a $50 million dollar gift called the McDevitt Endowment. The gift, which comes from the estate of Robert and Catherine McDevitt of Binghamton, is the single largest gift in the school’s history and one of the largest ever to a Jesuit-run college or university. The $50 million gift will more than double Le Moyne's current endowment, and will be dedicated to the academic areas of computer science, information processing, physics and religious philosophy.

“A quality higher education is the key to unlocking so many doors, and this gift is a testament to that belief. The McDevitt Endowment is an exceptional act of generosity that sets the stage for Le Moyne to enter a new phase of growth as they expand their legacy as a leading educational institution. In this climate when tough economic times are affecting all aspects of our lives, including access to higher education, this landmark gift will play a critical role in furthering the goals of the college and bettering the futures of its students. We must all continue to ensure that access continues to be part the American dream that can be achieved well into the future.”

Senator Clinton has long been a champion of higher education and supporting college students. Earlier this year, Senator Clinton welcomed the enactment into law of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which included key measures she championed to increase access to college for hardworking Americans, including provisions to address the needs of our nation’s veterans and non-traditional students (http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=302370&&). Two of the provisions from her Student Borrower Bill of Rights were enacted into law during the 109th Congress through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense 2006. Two of the provisions from her previously introduced Nontraditional Student Success Act were also enacted into law through the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

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