Wilhite Family Boosts U-M Academic Success Program with $1 Million Gift
3/31/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football, Academic Success Program
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Athletic Department announced today (Thursday, March 31) a generous $1 million gift from the Wilhite family to the Michigan Athletics Academic Success Program (ASP) in memory of Clayton Wilhite. The gift will be used to establish the Clayton E. Wilhite Academic Success Program Fund and will provide support to student-athletes in their academic endeavors.
Clayton Wilhite, a student-athlete alumni, played football at the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 under head coach Bump Elliott. In his senior year, Wilhite helped the Wolverines defeat Ohio State with a 35-yard touchdown pass. In addition to his love for football, Wilhite valued education, performing well on and off the field during his time as a student-athlete. During his college career, Wilhite received the Maulbetsch, Robinson, Yost and Phi Beta Kappa awards for academic and athletic achievements. After graduation, Wilhite spent many years traveling the world with his wife as an advertiser before returning to Ann Arbor in 1997 when he served as managing partner and a member of the board of directors for CFI World Wide until his retirement in 2008.
"We are honored that a charitable gift has been donated to the Clayton E. Wilhite Academic Success Program Fund," said Wilhite's sister, Mary Post. "Through this generous gift, our hope is that numerous student-athletes will utilize this program to achieve academic success."
The Wilhite family's donation honors the passion and drive Wilhite had during his college career, and the family hopes that his story will inspire current student-athletes to strive for greatness in their athletic and academic endeavors.
"Clayton Wilhite exemplifies our core values here at the University of Michigan," said Warde Manuel, Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "His passion for athletics and academics will continue to motivate and inspire the next generation of student-athletes, and his generous contributions to our program will help carry on his legacy here at the University."
The University of Michigan's Academic Success Program (ASP) serves nearly 1,000 student-athletes with counseling, tutorial and mentoring needs. With approximately 120 tutors and 13 full-time members, the ASP is a valuable resource to student-athletes juggling rigorous academic loads and high-caliber athletic schedules.Â
"At Michigan, our mission is to ensure our students are champions not only in their competitive fields, but in the classroom, and most especially in life," said Steve Connelly, Senior Assistant AD, Director of the Academic Success Program."That is at the core of what it is to be a Wolverine. What's more, through donors like the Wilhite family, we are able to ensure our students have all the resources necessary for success -- whether it be tutoring, academic mentoring, or a piece of assistive technology a student may need. Their generosity makes what we do possible."
The $1 million gift will help fund a myriad of resources for student-athletes, including technology, scholarship aid and internships. The ASP plans to invest in more robust software and technology options to keep up with a changing academic landscape as well as focus on building out their intern program to find opportunities to have more former student-athletes be represented within the ASP staff.
