William M. Rodgers taught at CU Denver in Geography and Environmental Sciences, from 1965 to 1974 when he retired as Professor Emeritus. Education was always important to Mr. Rodgers. So important, in fact, that he took an unusual path to join the ranks of academia. "My husband retired from the Army at the age of 55 and thought, 'What to do?' said his widow, Mrs. Wendell Rodgers. At an age when most people consider winding down their careers, Mr. Rodgers began a new one. After he finished a Master's in Geography at the University of Arizona (he earned a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Washington prior to joining the Army), he began a second career teaching at CU Denver. In honor of her late husband and his passion for geography, Mrs. Rodgers established the William M. Rodgers Fund at CU Denver. The fund supports annual scholarships for undergraduates studying geography, a subject for which Mrs. Rodgers shares her husband's enthusiasm.
Learn more about the Rodgers' legacy.
Two scholarships offered within GES:
- Each fall, the General Rodgers Scholarship (general for all GES undergraduates who qualify) is offered based on an application statement and overall GPA.
- Each spring, the Rodgers Research Scholarship is also available to undergraduates pursuing research in Geography or Environmental Sciences. Applicants are also encouraged to apply for the UROP grant for more financial assistance in conducting a research project.
CONGRATULATIONS to the recipients of the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Rodgers Scholarship award!