Thomas College Alum Leaves $1.2M for Scholarships

The donation from frugal and thoughtful Susan C. Jaques will help students for generations, the college president said.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:11pm

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An impressionistic, dreamlike scene of students walking across a college campus, their figures blurred into abstract shapes of warm light and color, conveying a sense of possibility and opportunity.A transformative scholarship gift will help Thomas College students pursue their dreams without the burden of college loans.Waterville Today

Thomas College announced a $1.2 million gift from the estate of Susan C. Jaques, a 1947 graduate, to establish a scholarship fund in her name. Jaques' cousin Laurah Brown, also a Thomas alum, presented the check to the college, noting Jaques' frugality and desire to provide educational opportunities for others. The scholarship will enable Thomas students to pursue lower-paying but vital fields like teaching without the burden of college loans.

Why it matters

This significant donation to Thomas College's endowment will create a lasting legacy of educational access and opportunity, especially for students interested in public service careers that are crucial for Maine's economy and communities. Jaques' story also highlights the power of modest means to make a transformative impact through thoughtful philanthropy.

The details

Susan C. Jaques graduated from Thomas College in 1947 with a two-year diploma in secretarial studies. She worked in the purchasing department at Central Maine Power, one of the first women to serve in that role. Jaques paid her own way through Thomas by working at an Oakland toothpick factory, walking to work from Waterville. Her cousin Laurah Brown, a 1993 Thomas graduate, said Jaques was extremely frugal and could have afforded more for herself, but her mission was to 'do good with the money she made.' Jaques passed away in 2024 at the age of 97.

  • Susan C. Jaques graduated from Thomas College in 1947.
  • Laurah Brown, Jaques' cousin, presented the $1.2 million check to the college on March 11, 2026.
  • Jaques passed away on December 7, 2024 at the age of 97.

The players

Susan C. Jaques

A 1947 Thomas College graduate who left a $1.2 million gift to the college to establish a scholarship fund in her name. Jaques was remembered as a frugal and thoughtful person who wanted to provide educational opportunities for others.

Laurah Brown

Jaques' cousin and a 1993 Thomas College graduate, who presented the $1.2 million check to the college on behalf of Jaques' estate.

Jeannine Diddle Uzzi

The president of Thomas College, who said Jaques' donation will support students for generations and help them pursue lower-paying but vital fields like teaching.

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What they’re saying

“Susan was a very intentional person, and she was a very frugal person. She wanted other people to have the opportunity of education.”

— Laurah Brown, Jaques' cousin

“A donation like this to a college literally can make the difference between a student being able to attend college and not being able to attend college.”

— Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, Thomas College President

“I hope people will look at a person like Susan, who you'd never know had a dime, and look at all their money and wealth and try to help others. Education is the basis to all our starts in life.”

— Laurah Brown, Jaques' cousin

What’s next

The Susan C. Jaques Scholarship Fund will begin accepting applications from Thomas College students for the upcoming academic year.

The takeaway

This generous gift from a modest but thoughtful alumna demonstrates the profound impact that even modest means can have when directed toward expanding educational access and opportunity. Jaques' story inspires others to consider how they might use their own resources, no matter the size, to support the next generation of students and strengthen their local communities.