When asked about his decision to establish an endowed scholarship at Bentley 17 years ago, Bill McLaughlin ’59 said, “I like helping students because I know how difficult getting an education can be.” When it came time to plan his estate, he knew Bentley would be an important part of his plans. When Bill passed away in early 2020, he left a very generous legacy gift, which almost tripled the size of the endowed scholarship fund that bears his name.

An annual donor to Bentley for more than 30 years, his final gift included a generous portion of an IRA. “Establishing the scholarship was a good move, and I’m glad I did it,” Bill once said. “It’s remarkable how well-known Bentley has become around the world. I’m just staggered at the opportunities out there, and I’m glad I can help these wonderful students have access to them.”