Rolphs Endow Fellowship

The Hammond and Julia Rolph Endowed Fellowship for Graduate Students will provide funds for promising graduate students in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, specifically for students in the School of International Relations and the department of East Asian languages and cultures. This endowed fund will not only reward academic excellence at USC in perpetuity, but also provide encouragement and incentive for future performance and sustained intellectual achievement.  

“Both Julia and I felt strongly that student aid was critical to the continuing success of USC,” explained Ham Rolph, a former USC College faculty member and administrator in international relations. He added: “Working overseas for much of my career helped Julia and me realize the importance of advanced education with an international direction. Julia’s USC work with the department of East Asian languages and cultures helped us to focus our gift in those two directions.”

The Rolphs created the endowment fund by donating their home to USC while retaining a life estate so they may continue to live there. In addition, they receive a quarterly gift-annuity income for the rest of their lives. If they choose to move from the home into a retirement facility, the income can be used toward that obligation. Best of all, the Rolph Endowed Fellowship will carry on the Rolphs’ name and their legacy of educational excellence and intellectual curiosity, and will honor one of USC’s more loyal alumni and faculty families.

If you are interested in establishing an endowed fund with USC College or in learning more about ways to increase your annual income by establishing a charitable fund, please contact Susan Redfield, director of development, at 213.740.1628 or redfield@usc.edu.