Alumnus gives $500k to create scholarship for students in Broad’s Residential Business Community

Michigan State Spartans are known for many characteristics, like our strength and courage, determination and grit and, above all, our sense of camaraderie and community. Spartans look out for one another and offer an unwavering level of support.

Dale Tremblay (B.A. Financial Administration ’80) and his wife, Sandra

Take Dale Tremblay (B.A. Financial Administration ’80) and his wife, Sandra. With a $500,000 gift, they’ve created the Tremblay Endowed Scholarship to ensure that undergraduates succeed while studying at the Broad College.

“For us, it’s about making an impact on others and improving people’s lives,” Dale said. “We believe that we have a responsibility to pay it forward and really share the successes that many of us have had at Michigan State.”

The Tremblays’ gift will directly support students in the college’s Residential Business Community, a living-learning experience that prepares students to be business leaders and encourages professional development. Designed for first- and second-year students, the RBC offers academic and experiential learning activities in a collaborative, inclusive, multicultural environment.

“The Tremblays’ visionary investment in education will open doors for talented and deserving individuals, empowering them to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential,” Sherri Henry, director of the RBC, said. “By alleviating a financial burden, the Tremblays are enabling students to focus on their studies, engage in meaningful experiences and become the next generation of leaders who will shape our society.”

With their scholarship, the Tremblays want to advance and support a culture of diversity and inclusion on campus and in the Broad College. As such, preference will be given to students with demonstrated potential for leadership in promoting cross-cultural understanding, those who will contribute to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of the college and those who have exhibited leadership skills in the face of adversity.

“I was the first to go to college in my family and I had to pay my way through school,” Dale said. “I know what it takes to work hard to get to that point, and our scholarship is a way to soften that for a few qualified students.”

Dale also recalled how some of his fondest memories at MSU involved events and spaces that brought people together — and continue to do so today.

“I was at State during the Magic era, so I had the opportunity to see Magic [Johnson] and all the Spartans [on the basketball team] play in the NCAA finals,” he said. “These experiences are an opportunity for students and people to get together. The other thing I enjoyed was always springtime on campus. You come out of that freeze and campus just opens up and everyone is outside.”

This sense of community is something that he’s carried into his career, striving to serve and help all those around him every step of the way.

Dale started his career as a financial analyst before venturing into commercial sales for Sara Lee and eventually working for Quaker Oats for 13 years. He then came to the private, family-owned company C.H. Guenther and Son LLC; for the past 23 years, he has grown the business as its chairman and CEO.

“I became a much more grounded person at State, and it sensitized me culturally to those around the world. I think [MSU] offers an opportunity to set a foundation for your professional career,” he said. “I found that every experience from there made me a better person. It’s all about working hard and earning your way through your career, but you have to start with the fundamental experience like MSU.”

Undergraduate students who are selected for the Tremblay Endowed Scholarship must be enrolled in a business major and maintain a high GPA throughout their time at MSU to be awarded $5,000 each year. The inaugural recipients for the 2023–24 academic year were selected last month and include two incoming first-year students.

“The impact of the Tremblay donation cannot be overstated,” Henry said. “With this remarkable gift, they are creating opportunities that will have a ripple effect, extending far beyond the immediate recipients. The Tremblays’ commitment to education serves as an inspiration to others and sets an example of the positive change that can be achieved through philanthropy. We are honored to have the Tremblays as a partner in our mission to transform lives through education.”

Donors seeking more information on how to make a gift to the Broad College of Business can email alumni@broad.msu.edu.