DURHAM, N.H. - Top students entering the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire next fall will benefit from a new scholarship created by alumnus Peter Paul. The new scholarships are part of a larger effort to attract the best and brightest students to the college and is supported by a $5 million gift from Paul, who made the university's largest gift to build Paul College.

Next fall, 36 entering business students will receive $5,000 every year for all four years, if they maintain high academic performance. Over the next five years, more than 250 students across Paul College's three programs of business administration, economics and hospitality management will receive the scholarship dollars. The $5,000 per year will be given on top of university merit awards.

"This gift allows us to strategically target one of our top philanthropic priorities, providing additional scholarship funds for the most academically promising students," said Deborah Dutton, vice president for advancement. "I am very hopeful that Peter's generosity and commitment to providing our students with more scholarship funds will inspire other alumni and friends to give."

In addition to the financial award, the Peter T. Paul Scholars will receive expanded academic and career readiness support as well as priority access to hands-on collaborative research opportunities with faculty mentors. Program development is currently underway and may also include the scholars living together in the first year and participating in a specially-designed leadership course. 

"My continued investment in the Paul College is intended to tip the scales for our top applicants, making Paul College the top choice for the best and brightest future business leaders," said Paul, a 1967 graduate in business administration.

This gift continues Paul's commitment to business education at the university. In 2008 he made what remains the largest gift in university history to support the building of the new Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

"We are very grateful for Peter's partnership with the college," said Deborah Merrill-Sands, dean of Paul College. "His support will allow our students to secure an excellent education and build successful and meaningful careers as graduates. It will significantly reduce a family's cost for a business education at UNH and reduce the loan debt that these high performing students will incur." 

Paul is the CEO of Headlands Asset Management LLC, an investment management company he founded in 2008. In addition, he is the owner of West Biofuels, a research and development venture, and Peter Paul Wines. He is also chairman of The Headlands Foundation, a nonprofit organization he founded in 1995.

The Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics offers a full complement of high-quality programs in business, economics, accounting, finance, information systems management, decision sciences and data analytics, entrepreneurship, marketing, and hospitality management at UNH. Programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive development levels. The college is accredited by the Association for the Advancement of  Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for business schools worldwide. For more information, visit paulcollege.unh.edu.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 13,000 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students.