The FBR Foundation has established The Fred Renwick Endowed Scholarship for PreMed Students at Xavier University of Louisiana through a $125,000 endowment as part of the legacy of Fred Blackwell Renwick, Ph.D.

Renwick, who passed away in 2014, retired as Professor Emeritus from New York University Leonard Stern School of Business, where he was a faculty member from 1965 to 2001. Prior to that he served as an integral part of the defense and space exploration programs. He was also a trustee for several organizations over time. Renwick earned his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, his SM from Harvard University, and an MBA and doctorate from Stern School of Business. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Morehouse College in 2007. Renwick was an accomplished author of published monographs, research articles and a textbook. Though he certainly obtained the professional title of doctor, his parents had always wanted him to become a physician. The scholarship fund is an interesting way to pay homage to his parents’ hopes for him by providing financial assistance to individuals who aspire to become medical doctors.

Fred Renwick

The Fred Renwick Endowed Scholarship for PreMed Students is set to provide financial assistance to actively enrolled students pursuing a pre-medicine curriculum or who have expressed to the premedical office their intentions toward pursuing a post-graduate education in medical school. The Foundation board has sought to provide scholarship opportunities for medical school students; however, moved by Xavier’s successful premedical program, the organization felt confident that supporting at the undergraduate level at Xavier would still indeed be an investment in the career of a future physician.

“We sincerely appreciate the financial support of the FBR Foundation to assist our premedical students in realizing their dreams of becoming physicians. It is beautiful that the foundation commits to our student success with this generous gift. We are indeed proud of our premedical program and its contribution to equitable healthcare throughout the decades,” said Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana.

In the past 20 years, 803 Xavierites earned medical degrees in the U.S., realizing their dreams of becoming physicians. A December 2023 AAMC report revealed that Xavier maintains its high rank among U.S. colleges and universities in sending African American graduates to medical school and is a leading undergraduate institution producing African American physicians.

“The fact that so many students from Xavier continue on to medical school or become part of the healthcare system and work in the field of medicine is in line with our decision to support education opportunities in health care where African American physicians are underrepresented” said Lynne Mueller, President of The FBR Foundation. Inc. “This Scholarship is an appropriate way to honor Dr. Renwick who always had a great affinity for his students; we want to do our best to honor Fred’s legacy.”

The scholarship will be awarded annually in the spring to students classified as juniors or seniors who meet the eligibility requirements and are nominated by the premedical office.