Description of the Project
After returning home from his own tour of duty, Dr. Marsh, a Vietnam veteran, experienced firsthand the disregard veterans often encounter upon returning to civilian life. Although he persevered, he would dedicate his later years to assisting others, maintaining a staunch commitment to bettering the lives of this country’s underserved veterans.
That legacy will be carried forward through The Dr. Eugene Marsh Endowed Scholarship Award. The Scholarship will provide support to veterans and military-connected students at Rider with financial need.
The scholarship will be fully endowed when funds reach a minimum of $25,000. When endowed, the fund will continue to build in value in the coming years and support full- and part-time veterans of any U.S. military branch, as well as military-connected students.
Dr. Eugene Marsh Scholarship Fund
Dr. Eugene Marsh was a proud veteran and a beloved alumnus whose determination to receive an education transcended all obstacles, including racism and homelessness. To memorialize him and the lifelong value that he placed on education, funds are now being raised to endow a scholarship to support veterans and military-connected students at Rider.
More about Dr. Eugene Marsh '13, '18, '21
Despite finding professional success, Eugene Marsh never gave up on his dream of attaining an education as a mature adult. It was this journey that led Eugene to Rider University where he became a much-loved part of the campus community.
Eugene earned an associate’s degree in 2010 at Mercer County Community College before transferring to Rider, where his dreams and ambition continued to grow with every accomplishment. He earned a bachelor’s in liberal studies and very quickly won the hearts and respect of the entire Rider community, particularly after a moving speech he delivered at Rider’s 2014 Commencement ceremony. His speech, which recalled his journey to becoming the first college graduate in his family, moved many in the audience to tears.
Subsequently, he attained his master’s in clinical mental health counseling. At the time of his death, due to complications of COVID-19 in January 2021, Eugene was 71 years old and enrolled in Rider’s Doctor of Educational Leadership program. His dissertation was focused on researching how student-veterans could be better supported in making informed decisions about their major of study and career goals at the outset of their education.
Eugene’s doctorate degree was awarded posthumously at the May 2021 Ed.D. ceremony.
Six months later, on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2021, Rider University proudly dedicated its veterans’ affairs office The Dr. Eugene Marsh Center for Veterans and Military Affairs. It is the first space at Rider named for a Black alumnus. More than 150 of Marsh’s family and friends raised the funds to renovate and rename the office, and to relocate it from the back of campus to a more centrally located home in Rider’s student center, the Bart Luedeke Center.