A ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder family with 100 years of history at the university has committed $2.15 million to expand scholarships and experiential learning for students in the Presidents Leadership Class (PLC).  

The Ruyle Family Scholarship, originally established in 2016, now provides up to four years of funding for selected PLC scholars through the family’s $2 million endowment gift — providing students with the financial means to achieve their academic goals. An additional $150,000 will support the Dr. Larry Allen Endowment Fund for experiential learning programs within PLC. 

These new investments were estate gifts from Robert A. Ruyle (Law’59), who passed away in July of 2024, and his late wife, Lydia Miller Ruyle (Econ, PolSci’57), as designated by their three children and their spouses: Stephen (MCDBio’80) and Stephanie Ruyle, Margaret (Chem’83) and Daniel Rukstalis, and Robin (Class’84) and Keith (Econ’84) Struve.  

The family’s contribution honors their long-standing family history at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ — stretching back generations to the 1920s — as well as their experience with PLC.  

Creating impact in the Presidents Leadership Class  

Established in 1972, PLC is an interdisciplinary, 4-year leadership program at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder that offers an immersive approach to leadership development. Driven by academic and experiential programming, a diverse community of undergraduates learns how to step boldly into their roles as the next generation of leaders.    

“PLC makes you a better citizen — unafraid to use your voice,” said Stephanie. “Giving kids the skills and courage to do that is really important.” 

Since 2016, the Ruyle Family Scholarship has provided PLC students with scholarships, offsetting the cost of tuition and helping students to focus on their schoolwork. Now, the family’s expanded endowment will ensure the program can provide support for all four years to students in underserved or underrepresented communities.  

“It’s lack of opportunities that holds people back — and one of the biggest lack of opportunities is financial,” said Robin. “We want to make sure people from underrepresented areas — geographically, culturally, racially — can attend ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ and be part of the PLC program.”  

The scholarship now provides $10,000 a year (for up to four years) for students who meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) first-generation students from a rural area of ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ; 2) members of a federally recognized Indian Tribe from the Rocky Mountain region, or 3) underrepresented students from ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ. 

Existing students are already benefiting from the scholarship’s support.   

“The rich perspectives in PLC are what helps me grow every day,” said Santé Crutcher (Physio’26), a PLC student and Ruyle Scholar who currently serves as the program’s service coordinator.  

“It is a community of people committed to making the world a better place for those who follow in our footsteps. PLC is a program that gives back what you give it.” 

100 years (and counting!) at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder 

The Ruyle family’s connection to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ has extended over the past century. The first family member to attend, David Jacob Miller (SocSci’1929; Law’1932), studied law and even brushed elbows with future Supreme Court justice Byron White. His daughter, Lydia, later attended as part of the first class of Boettcher Scholars in the mid-1950s. Her future husband, Robert, followed her there to attend law school, and together they cemented their family legacy as Forever Buffs. 

Eager to carry on the family tradition, the Ruyles’ three children, Stephen, Margaret and Robin, also attended ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ. They were all part of the Presidents Leadership Class in its early days — with their father, Robert, serving as one of the program’s early trustees, as well as a ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Foundation trustee.  

“We grew up with tremendous learning opportunities for four generations of fun at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ,” said Margaret. “Since PLC includes students from all departments and classes, I was blessed to learn and work together with my brother, sister, friends and leaders in ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ’s private and public sectors — and we continue to support positive changes in ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ, the U.S. and the world.” 

The extended Ruyle family has continued to serve as advocates, supporters and fans of the university over many decades. Stephen, Stephanie and Robin have also served on the PLC Board of Advocates, and the whole family was instrumental in selecting ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder and the PLC program as beneficiaries of their parents’ estate gift. 

“Giving back to the community is part of our family’s DNA,” said Robin. 

But the family connection to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ doesn’t stop there. Three of Robert and Lydia’s grandkids have also attended: Katie Struve Binswanger (IntlAf’15), Bridger Ruyle (EnvEngr’17) and Remi Ruyle (Phys, Span’20).   

Bridger and Remi are also PLC graduates — another reason the family chose to honor the program with their significant gift. 

Their family’s long history with the university is a testament to the power of higher education, according to Stephen. “I look at education like a societal IRA — if you’re going to have good citizens and a society that’s productive, education is the building block of all of it,” he said. “Higher education is the foundation for a successful society.” 

Upholding the family legacy 

By expanding their scholarship and supporting students through the PLC program, the Ruyle family is cementing their role as stewards of the ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder mission.  

“Education was core to both my parents,” said Stephen. To continue his parents’ tradition of generosity, he said it was a “no-brainer” to invest his parents’ estate gift in a place so meaningful to the whole family. 

And their impact will carry on for generations to come.  

“I was a classics major, and part of the classical tradition is that you live on as long as somebody remembers you,” said Robin. “We hope people will remember the generosity of our family — and that we can impact and change students’ lives.” 

Learn more about the PLC program, including ways to give, at colorado.edu/plc.  

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When Norah Nyangau (PhDIntPhys’25) immigrated to the U.S. from Kenya as a child, playing sports helped her navigate cultural and language barriers with her peers. Years later, this early passion sparked a curiosity for rehabilitation and movement — and eventually led her to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder, where she’s working toward a doctoral degree in integrative physiology as part of the Curci PhD Scholars Program cohort.

The Curci Foundation established the Curci PhD Scholars Program at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder in 2022. The goal is to bring together and financially support doctoral students from around the world to pursue research and advance life sciences at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder. 

After her initial childhood inspiration, Norah’s interest in rehabilitation grew throughout her education. She became especially interested in how rehabilitation improves the quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities. ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder’s integrative physiology graduate program appealed to her because of its highly innovative and holistic approach to research.

“I knew I wanted to be in a program that fosters rigorous research training and collaborations with local clinical centers,” she said.

Selected to join the Curci PhD Scholars Program in 2023, Norah received a full scholarship to pursue her work and a stipend to cover living expenses. Norah said that the fellowship was a game changer, helping her find a path to continue her education while allowing her to devote more time to research. 

She shared that she can now build a solid foundation to support her dissertation work and future career. After completing her PhD, she hopes to work with vulnerable communities to improve the quality of life for individuals with mobility limitations.

“Growing up in a developing country has provided me with the compassion and desire to work within communities that are often disadvantaged and under-resourced,” Norah said. “I hope that in my future career, I can contribute innovative solutions that push the field forward in improving rehabilitation outcomes.” 

Connecting research and community 

As part of the Curci PhD Scholars Program, students meet monthly to connect and learn from each other. Each month, one scholar shares their research with their peers — and they also take time for a bit of fun. 

In October, Negar Rahimi (PhDIntPhys’25), a second-year PhD student from Iran, presented her research on the ability of machine-learning algorithms to evaluate data and make accurate predictions. Her fellow scholars asked questions and shared insights from their own research, which led to an engaging conversation.

After the presentation, the scholars switched gears to carve pumpkins and socialize. The program emphasizes building personal connections and sharing new cultural experiences by infusing fun activities into the monthly meetings.

“From monthly catch-up meetings in which we share our personal and research progresses to celebrating the holidays together, the fellowship has provided a sense of community that has eased the hardships of relocating to a new environment,” Norah said.

PhD program grows international student involvement

In 2022, the Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation made a $1.9 million gift to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder to support two cohorts of six incoming graduate students for the first two years of their PhD education in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, integrative physiology, biochemistry, or psychology and neuroscience. The Curci PhD Scholars Program covers the cost of attendance, allowing students to focus on their research. After two successful years, a third cohort joined the program this fall. The Curci Foundation has granted a continued commitment of $500,000 annually to add six new scholars to the program. 

The program aims to award two-thirds of the scholarships to international students, helping to break down barriers and expand recruitment in the life sciences graduate program for students who usually are not eligible for U.S. scholarships.

Bolstered by the power of philanthropy, scholars like Norah can positively impact ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder and the world through their research while building lasting connections. 

“Along with providing the resources to succeed, I am also connected with other scholars who share similar experiences as international students and provide that sense of belonging,” said Norah. 

“I am grateful for the support I received as I assimilated to the new environment, which was paramount in establishing a sturdy footing for me to flourish.”  

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Dale (AeroEngr’93) and Kristen Farrand (Psych’92) are making a lasting impact at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder through a planned gift in their will. Their generous commitment will support programs that assist underrepresented populations, promote leadership and innovation, and enhance student experiences, including the Army ROTC, aerospace student projects, the School of Education, Athletics DEI initiatives and the Parent Fund.

The Farrands’ commitment to philanthropy stemmed from their experiences at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder, where their lives were profoundly shaped both academically and personally. Now, they’re aiming to ensure future generations of students receive the same support and opportunities that made a difference to them.

A lifelong connection to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder

As a high school student in Michigan in the late 1980s, Kristen was eager to explore a new community. After researching colleges at her local library, she chose ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder — sight unseen. It did not disappoint. 

Kristen embraced life in Boulder, spending her college years exploring all ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ had to offer. However, the support she received from faculty solidified her loyalty to the university. Initially a journalism major, Kristen soon realized it wasn’t the right fit. After some exploration, she landed in psychology, later adding an elementary education certificate. 

“I was able to do all this exploring at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ and also participate in the Semester at Sea Study Abroad Program because of the care and flexibility that ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ provides for its students,” she said.

Dale chose ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder because of its renowned aerospace program and ties to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and space exploration. Growing up in Montana as a skier, he was also attracted to Boulder’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains. After one visit, he was hooked. 

The two met in Boulder, a connection that would change their lives forever. Now married for over 30 years, the couple has three daughters — two of whom attended ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder.

Though they now call the Washington, D.C., area home, their ties to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder remain strong. Over the years, they returned for football games and other events. They also sought out Forever Buffs communities where they lived, proudly wearing ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Buffs gear and hearing “Sko Buffs!” around the world.

Investing in future Buffs

When it came time for the Farrands’ children to choose a college, ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder was the obvious choice. In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Farrands’ daughters were in their first and second years of college. That experience highlighted the critical role of emotional, academic and social support programs — resources ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder’s Parent Fund helps sustain. These programs provided valuable guidance during an anxious and uncertain time to help their daughters thrive.

The Farrands also learned that the state of ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ provides less funding for public universities than many other states. Reflecting on their own needs as students, as well as their children’s, they decided to deepen their commitment to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder by exploring additional ways to give back.

After careful consideration, the Farrands chose to make a planned gift through their will, believing it would allow them to make a lasting impact across several key areas. The Farrands’ commitment to philanthropy demonstrates how alumni can give back to the university. Through a planned gift, they will support programs that reflect their values and honor their family’s loyalty to ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder.

A call to action for alumni

The Farrands shared their belief that giving time, talents and treasures allows alumni to enhance their relationship with the university and help students have a positive and enduring memory of their time at ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder. As philanthropists and volunteers, alumni can connect with a community of like-minded individuals and engage directly with ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ while deciding how to best impact the student experience today and into the future.

“Attending ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ changed the direction of my life. I met my wife and many of my closest friends. My experience opened my eyes to a larger and more diverse world,” Dale said. 

“Boulder, the University of ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ and the ecosystem they create are a perfect storm of critical and creative thinking, technological innovation, appreciation of our natural resources and the importance of global compassion and responsibility. It is the perfect place to springboard into adult life, and so far, our two Forever Buffs daughters agree!”

Alumni have many options to invest in ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder, including with a gift in your will or trust. Learn more about how to engage in the programs that represent your values and passion through .  

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