New Scholarships Support Aspiring Scientists and Physicians at Georgetown

With a transformational bequest, School of Dentistry alumnus Richard Calabrese (D'77) and his wife, Angela, will establish two endowed scholarship funds designed to help aspiring scientists and physicians.

One fund will provide financial support for STEM-focused undergraduates in Georgetown's Community Scholars Program, specifically those who take part in the Regents STEM Scholars Program. Most Community Scholars are the first in their families to attend college.

Recognizing that the field of medicine and patient outcomes are enriched by individuals with a variety of life experiences, the Calabreses established a second fund to help medical students with demonstrated financial need attending Georgetown School of Medicine.

'It's all about serving others'

The Calabreses have remained connected to Georgetown since Richard graduated from the School of Dentistry, which operated from 1901-1990. The couple has enjoyed participating in the annual John Carroll Weekend, a gathering of Georgetown alumni, friends, faculty, and university leaders that takes place in a different city each year. They also have fond memories of attending a program called Alumni College in which alumni were invited to stay on campus for a week each summer, taking classes and learning about ways Georgetown is impacting larger society.

"Reflecting on my journey through life, Georgetown helped me evolve into a more humanistic person," says Richard. "When I think about the people that I met there-including summers at Alumni College-I believe in the university and the overall direction it has taken."

The couple recalls how meaningful financial assistance was to them during their undergraduate and graduate years.

"My Regent Scholarship at Fordham enabled me to graduate college without a lot of debt. I also received a scholarship from Georgetown during my final year at the dental school," shares Richard. "I was newly married and those funds made a big difference."

"We've been blessed," he adds. "My hope is that we can ease the burden for young people going into a noble profession. We want them to be less stressed by the economic realities of life."

Prior to this gift, the Calabreses established the Frieda and Joseph Calabrese Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Richard's parents, neither of whom were able to attend college, but deeply valued the importance of an education for their son.

Richard's mother, Frieda, was a dental assistant, inspiring Richard's career. For 42 years, he ran a successful dental practice in Coral Springs, Florida. "It's a noble profession, all about serving others," he says.

'Commitment to the STEM academic community'

The first fund will help STEM-focused students who participate in Georgetown's Community Scholars Program. Established in 1968, the program is a nationally recognized model for supporting the academic success of first-generation and limited-income college students. Its hallmark is a rigorous five-week summer pre-orientation on Georgetown's campus before students' first year, laying a strong foundation for their undergraduate experience.

A subset of Community Scholars are designated as Regents STEM Scholars. The Regents STEM Scholars Program (RSSP) was established to address the critical shortage of underserved and first-generation students who successfully complete degrees in STEM fields.

Regents STEM Scholars participate in a summer research program and have access to ongoing mentorship support and online modules that prepare students for the rigor of upper-level science courses.

"For over 50 years the Community Scholars program has anchored and enriched the academic experiences of first generation college students," says Senior Associate Dean of Students Charlene Brown-McKenzie, executive director of access and success in Georgetown's Division of Student Affairs. "The Calabrese gift deepens our commitment to the STEM academic community for our Regents Science Scholars. Each year we admit and support tremendously talented students who demonstrate lived experiences of persistence and academic excellence and this gift will enable them to flourish without undue financial burdens."

Resources and hope for aspiring physicians

Scholarship investment from alumni and the community is vital to ensuring passion-not debt-shapes the paths of Georgetown future physicians. Medical student debt can limit a young physician's ability to follow their true calling in primary care, research, or service to the underserved and forcing many to choose more lucrative specialties.

The second Richard and Angela Calabrese Endowed Scholarship Fund will help support School of Medicine medical students with demonstrated financial need.

"This gift exemplifies a vote of confidence in the promise and potential of the next generation of healers," says Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean of the School of Medicine. "Our students often share that receiving a scholarship is not just about access to an education; it is the moment they feel seen, believed in, and called to something larger than themselves. Scholarships offer not only resources, but hope."