As time passes, the birthday gifts children receive from their parents evolve from toys and games to clothes, gift cards, jewelry, and the like. For Irving Stenn Jr., ’55, a gift marking his 45th birthday was the beginning of an amazing legacy of philanthropy at the University of Michigan.
In 1976, Irv’s father wrote a letter to then Law School Dean Ted St. Antoine, ’54, saying that he wanted to do something meaningful, yet different, to celebrate his son’s birthday. Knowing Irv Junior’s deep love for U-M, Irv Senior worked with then Associate Dean Roy Proffitt, ’48, LLM ’56, to establish a fund to provide awards to a law student “who, while making satisfactory progress toward his or her academic goal, is also contributing through extracurricular activities, organized or otherwise, to the well-being and strength of the Law School or University community.”
Known as the Stenn Award, the fund has grown through contributions from Irv Junior and annually honors standout graduates—more than 80 to date. It is one of the Law School’s most prestigious awards.
The criteria for the Stenn Award mirror advice given from father to son long ago.
“My father told me to get out and experience all that Michigan had to offer, and I did,” says Stenn, who participated in student government as both an undergrad and a law student, and also played freshman tennis and basketball.
“It was a place where I thrived, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of it. Through the award, we recognize students who work hard to make the Law School an enjoyable place to be, and who have a strong likelihood of going on to be leaders in their community after graduation.”
But honoring outstanding students upon graduation isn’t enough for Stenn; he wants to ensure these future leaders attend Michigan Law in the first place.
In 2011, Stenn endowed a scholarship fund geared toward the type of students the Stenn Award honors. Recently, he significantly enhanced the Stenn Scholarship through an additional $1 million gift.
In so doing, Stenn is ensuring that many more future students can embrace all that makes Michigan special. He feels strongly that alumni have an obligation to give back to the Law School, at whatever level they can, because of the way the school influences students’ lives and careers.
“The Law School provided the basis for my career and all that I’m able to do now,” says Stenn, who spent the majority of his career in private practice in Chicago.
“It gave me endless possibilities.” And he says that supporting extraordinary students is the best way to say thank you. “Anyone you talk to who went to Michigan years ago says, ‘I could never get into the Law School now.’ That’s how highly we regard the young people of today.”
Stenn—who also is a major donor to the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), including a recent $1 million bequest—says he has been “blown away” by recent interactions with Michigan Law students.
At a spring 2013 UMMA event held in his honor, he was toasted by 3L Kathryn Schoff, a recipient of the Stenn Scholarship. “She encapsulates everything we’re trying to accomplish through the award and scholarship,” he says. “I am proud to support students like her.”
Stenn was equally impressed at the spring 2014 honors convocation, where the Stenn Award winners are announced.
“Anybody who has an inclination to give should attend one of those ceremonies,” he notes. “You’ll absolutely be inspired.”
While having a gallery named for him at UMMA certainly is an honor, Stenn says supporting students provides a different sense of satisfaction.
“I get the most wonderful letters from students saying I’ve helped change their lives, and that’s immensely rewarding. Bricks and mortar don’t do much if you don’t have good people to fill them.”
