St. Lawrence Receives $1.5 Million Gift to Endow a Full Scholarship for Middle-Class North Country Students
The Edward John Noble Foundation has made a $1.5 million gift to St. Lawrence University to endow a comprehensive scholarship for middle-class students from the North Country.
Noble Smith ’71, the grandson of the late Edward John Noble and head of the Foundation, and his wife, Maribeth, have created the Anthony and Constance Soupios P’71 Scholarship in memory of the late parents of Michael Soupios ’71, a close friend whom Smith met at St. Lawrence. The scholarship funds a loan-free financial aid package for up to four years of study—including full tuition, room and board, and student fees.
“Comprehensive scholarships like these are absolutely transformative for our middle-class students and vital to the future of the University,” says President Kate Morris. “We are grateful to Noble and the Foundation for their generosity and alignment with our strategic goals to ensure that these students have access to the powerful liberal arts education St. Lawrence offers.”
Noble Smith expressed confidence in the University’s leadership, stressing the importance of philanthropy to St. Lawrence’s future. “The Foundation usually chooses to keep its philanthropic gifts private,” says Noble Smith. “But we do believe that middle-class students can get lost in the shuffle when it comes to college affordability, so we hope that by sharing the news publicly, we can inspire others to fund a similar type of gift at St. Lawrence.”
The Noble family’s history with the University dates back nearly a century to 1934, when Edward John Noble joined the Board of Trustees, serving as chair from 1942 to 1954. The accomplished industrialist co-founded the Life Savers Candy Company, was the first chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, was appointed the first Under Secretary of Commerce by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and founded the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). St. Lawrence’s Noble Center is named in honor of Edward John Noble, who received an honorary degree in 1939.
Members of the Noble family have remained in close contact with the University across the generations. Edward Noble’s daughter, June Noble Smith Larkin Gibson (Noble Smith’s mother), later received an honorary doctorate. In addition to Noble Smith’s ongoing engagement with the University in his role heading the Edward John Noble Foundation, his brother, Jeremy Smith ’73, received an alumni citation in 2023.
Says President Morris: “We are grateful for the deep connections between the Noble family and for Noble Smith’s vision to honor his friend’s parents while supporting deserving St. Lawrence students.”
Interested in learning more? Read about our endowment opportunities or contact Kim Hissong, vice president for University Advancement, to discuss a gift.
