Karen L. and Robert H. Eckhoff Endowed Scholarship

Purpose:
The Fund is established to provide financial support to students pursuing degrees or certificates in Integrative Health Care and Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Karen and Robert took courses at MSU Denver in the 1980s while working full-time. Robert took various computer courses to help him in his work with the U.S. Government. Karen, who was working as a Registered Medical Technologist at Presbyterian Medical Center in Denver, decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in Accounting. She continued to work and take courses at MSU Denver for 6 years and graduated in December 1986 with a B.S. Degree in Accounting. While at MSU Denver, Karen earned a scholarship each semester based on her GPA. This assistance toward completing her degree helped her attain employment and a successful career with the U.S. Government.
Summary of Karen’s U.S. Government Career: After graduation, Karen went to work for the IRS in Denver, and passed the CPA exam in 1989. After working 3 years with the IRS, she transferred to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency, where she started as a federal credit union examiner tasked with examining U.S. credit unions to ensure they were operating in a safe and sound manner to maintain their federally insured status. Due to her willingness to take on unique problems, the high amount of travel, and relocation to other parts of the country, she rose in the senior management structure of NCUA and retired in 2014 after 30 years of federal government service. Her MSU Denver education helped her navigate and manage the regulatory challenges governing a continually changing financial services industry, supervise teams of examiners, and work successfully with people in various cultures to achieve outcomes that were mutually desired by NCUA and the regulated credit unions.
Karen and Robert strongly support educational institutions that provide opportunities for students who are dedicated to improving and changing their lives. They are establishing this endowment because they believe in the mission of MSU Denver, are impressed with the growth of programs and community relationships at MSU Denver, and are grateful for the scholarship assistance Karen received while at MSU Denver. In addition, both Karen and Robert strongly believe that people need better knowledge and understanding of nutrition and its relationship to good health.
They are pleased to establish this endowment for degrees and certificates in Integrative Health Care and Human Nutrition and Dietetics. It is their hope that future health practitioners who attain their education at MSU Denver will become significant contributors to better health understanding and attainment in their communities.

Criteria:
• Be meeting MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
• Have a declared major in Integrative Health Care or Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Be a sophomore initially.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Be employed at least 10 hours per week while attending MSU Denver.

There is a preference for the recipient to be taking at least 12 credit hours during the semester/s the scholarship is received.
ASSET/CASFA students are eligible.
This scholarship is renewable (contingent on available funds) for two years (three years in total) if the recipient continues to meet the criteria