Villanova Preparatory School is blessed to have five named endowed scholarships. Each of these scholarship funds is awarded to students who have met the specific criteria. The five scholarships include: The Fr. Glynn Endowed Scholarship, The Fr. Sullivan Endowed Scholarship, The Timothy Bunce Endowed Scholarship, The John J. Menne ’47 Memorial Scholarship, and the Michael J. Poitevin ‘63 Memorial Scholarship. You can read more about each of these scholarships below.
A donor may establish either an Endowed Named Scholarship or a Fixed-Term Named Scholarship as a way to honor or establish a lasting memory of a loved one. Please contact the Director of Development, Sandi White, to discuss the possibilities. She can be reached by phone at: (805) 646-1464 ext. 118 or by email at: swhite@villanovapep.org.
Endowed Named Scholarship
An endowed scholarship may be established in the name of the donor or in another name specified by the donor with a minimum gift of $25,000. The principal (corpus) of the endowment will be invested by Villanova's Office of Financial Affairs and the annual interest will fund the scholarship. The corpus of the endowment may never be spent. The donor may make additional contributions to add to the corpus at any time. Learn more about our five endowed scholarships below.
Fixed-Term Named Scholarship
A Fixed-Term Named Scholarship may be established with a minimum gift of $5,000.
Fr. William Sullivan, OSA, was born Feb. 10, 1926, and graduated from St. Augustine High School, San Diego, in 1943. After high school he went to the Augustinian novitiate in New Hamburg, N.Y., and made his first profession of vows in 1944, he graduated from Villanova College in 1949, and was ordained a priest in 1952. Fr. Sullivan was part of the Villanova faculty and Augustinian community on two occasions: from 1957 to 1959, and the 1961-1962 school year.
As a faculty member at Villanova Preparatory School beginning in 1957, Fr. Sullivan served as the Director of Studies, while also teaching English, Latin, and Mathematics. His remembrance in the yearbook reads “tall and cordial, captious, intelligent and an intellect” Fr. also enjoyed classical music and was a lover of all things British. An English major, Fr. Sullivan moved easily among the Catholic writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, he was well-read and witty. He was known as a hard worker, clear thinker, good writer, great on detail, and follow through.
The Fr. Sullivan Endowed Scholarship was inspired by Michael Wilson ‘59. Michael reached out to Villanova asking how he could honor and create a lasting memory of Fr. Sullivan because of his intellect, kindness, and insight that he shared with Michael and many other of his fellow students while teaching at Villanova. Michael remembered Fr. as a teacher and mentor, “he passed his love of literature and poetry along to me, and both have certainly enriched my life as a writer and filmmaker.” Many donors contributed, and along with Michael’s matching gift, the Fr. Sullivan Endowed Scholarship was born. The Scholarship was awarded for the first time in the fall of 2021.
In 2011, Dianna Wilke '88, served as a member of the Board of Directors and sought to establish an endowed scholarship to honor one of her valued teachers, Timothy Bunce. With the interest and support of other alumni, the Timothy Bunce Endowed Scholarship was formed.
The scholarship was intended to support a Villanova student for all four years of his or her education while boosting diversity on campus by aiding students who have financial need. In the past, the scholarship has been disbursed to children of alumni and continues to consider legacy students who show potential, have an interest in pursuing a college degree, and have demonstrated financial need.
Timothy Bunce began his distinguished teaching career at Villanova Preparatory School in August of 1984, teaching senior English and freshman world history. He initiated the first AP 12th grade English Literature and Writing Composition class in 1987, then served from 2002-2007 as an Advanced Placement reader consultant to the College Boards' Education Testing Service.
Tim still recalls his past students and their activities, both in and out of the classroom, with amazing clarity. He retired from Villanova in June of 2024 but will remain involved with Villanova in the capacity of a substitute teacher
Fr. Glynn served in many roles at Villanova, most notably as the school’s Headmaster from 1960-1965 and then from 1975-1979, as well as a Latin teacher and chaplain until the early 2000s.
He embodied the spirit of Catholic Augustinian education through the love and devotion he exemplified in his faith, his genuine care and concern for the students, and his dedication to the success of Villanova Prep as a school that develops the mind, heart, and body of every student. Any alumnus who attended Villanova Prep will remember his kind smile, his wonderful sense of humor, and his delightful spirit. He truly cared for his “duckos” (his affectionate name for the students) and would annually write Christmas cards to all of the graduates of Villanova.
It is through this scholarship that the legacy of Fr. John Glynn continues to have an impact. He saw the need for Villanova Prep to serve the needs of the local Catholic community by providing an outstanding educational opportunity for students who were seeking a well-rounded, Christ-centered education in the Augustinian tradition. We hope to continue his vision and legacy to ensure qualified and deserving students have the opportunity to attend Villanova Prep.
John J. Menne, class of 1947, was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who passed away in 2021. His Son, Martin, class of 1981, established a scholarship in his name that is to be awarded to an upperclassman who best exhibits the overarching values of a Villanova education of unity, truth, and love. John is remembered as a loving, strong, disciplined, hardworking, and honest man who loved the outdoors and appreciated nature. His grandchildren’s reflection on this life best illustrates this: “We are blessed that he showed us how to build a joyful, successful, and impactful life. But more than anything, he will be remembered for his love of Nana (Carolyn) and his family.”
Michael J. Poitevin, class of 1963 passed away in 2019. His scholarship was established by his loving wife, Vickie, as a way to create a legacy to honor the man that she loved. Vickie and Mike lived in Northern California for most of their married life where he had a successful career in business that spanned more than 30 years. Michael was an avid student and learner, he and Vicki enjoyed adventure and travel throughout their lives.