Grosse Pointe residents Judy and Rick Rutan along with friends and family have donated more than $73,000 to the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University. The funds were donated in memory of their daughter to the Lara M. Rutan, MS, PA-C Endowed Scholarship Fund.

In accepting the donation, Dean Beverly J. Schmoll said, "Lara was an outstanding student and role model for her peers and those in her profession. Through this scholarship fund, she will continue to lead, encourage and assist numerous Physician Assistant Studies students in attaining their educational goals."

President of her class, Lara Rutan earned a Master of Science degree in the Physician Assistant Studies program in May 2005. Two days after taking the State Boards and one month following her engagement to be married, her life was taken by a drunk driver in September 2005.

The Lara M. Rutan, MS, PAC-C Endowed Scholarship Fund is the only endowed scholarship for the Physician Assistant Studies program at the college. The fund has two components. The first is an endowed scholarship fund to recognize scholastic achievement and provide financial assistance to students in the college's Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program. The second component is an "emergency loan fund" to help PAS students with unplanned or unforeseen emergency expenses, such as overdue rent, auto repairs, day care expenses, etc.

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a founding college of Wayne State University, is committed to advancing the health and well-being of society through the preparation of highly skilled health care practitioners and through research to improve health care practices and treatment from the urban to global levels. Wayne State University is a world class institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.

Media Contact: Kathleen J. Karas, APR
Voice: (313) 577-2312
Email: kkaras@wayne.edu
Fax: (313) 577-0457