Boston University. Boston College. Babson College. Time and again, these schools are at the top of Bentley’s list of enrollment competitors. What are the keys to attracting high-caliber applicants to become Falcons?

The Deysher Academic Excellence Endowed Fund is one generously funded answer. Created through a $1 million endowed gift from trustee Cynthia Deysher, MSF ’87 and husband Bryon, MSF ’85, the merit-based scholarship has been awarded to seven first-year students, all participants in the Honors Program, for the next four years; the scholarship will be awarded to a new cohort each year.

Last April, Mark Stanic ’21 was undecided between Bentley and the University of Tampa. Both had offered financial aid — but the Deysher scholarship fully closed the gap and sealed his decision.

“It might seem odd that I would want to hug the Deyshers,” he says of the couple. “But when you receive monetary aid from anyone for any event, it is hard to say something that truly shows how much you care.”

Knowing alumni are behind the support makes it even more meaningful, says Donna Kendall, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Someone has gone out of their way to care about students’ futures and their potential. They’re so thankful.”

For students who need financial assistance, the fund elevates Bentley in the competitive landscape. For those with enough financial backing to shop around, the Academic Excellence Fund offers an extra reason to come to Waltham.

While bringing in extraordinary talent was a prime motivation for the gift, it also spoke to personal experience. Cynthia Deysher worked two part-time jobs and received loans and grants to make her way through college.

“Scholarships meant that I could stay at school, that I could graduate,” she says. “It was an affirmation that what I was trying to do as a student was important.”

The couple has been giving that same vote of confidence to master’s degree candidates for the past six years through the Cynthia and Bryon Deysher Graduate Fellowship; they’re happy to now be able to do the same for Honors Program students.

In both cases, recipients are “hardworking and extremely grateful — students who will only elevate the Bentley community,” says the alumna.

“We’re very proud.”

What do greenhouse gas emissions, horse racing and the Internet of Things have in common?

All are topics that students have explored through the Honors Program and other avenues for undergraduate research. Their work gained visibility with the 2016 launch of a campus-based journal. Published in fall and spring by the Honors Program, Fusio features papers written by Bentley undergraduates, sometimes with a faculty co-author. Read the latest issue at bentley.edu/fusio. 

For a more personal look at the Honors Program, check out the student-run Columnas newsletter at bentley.edu/columnas.