Founders Day Part II: The Brookings Awards winners

Bauers, Rudolphs to receive honor at Nov. 5 Founders Day gala

As part of the celebration of the 1853 founding of Washington University in St. Louis, two couples will receive the Robert S. Brookings Award at the annual Founders Day banquet.

The gala takes place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the St. Louis Union Station Marriott. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin will deliver the keynote address. For ticket information, call (314) 935-6503.

Robert S. Brookings Awards

In recognition of their outstanding commitment and exceptional generosity to the university, the Board of Trustees will honor George and Carol Bauer and Scott and Pyong Rudolph with the Robert S. Brookings Award.

Carol B. and George P. Bauer

Carol B. and George Bauer

The Bauers are longtime philanthropists, and their generosity and support of George’s alma mater over the years have been expressed in many ways. Through the Bauer Foundation, they established the George and Carol Bauer Professorship in Organizational Ethics and Governance in the Olin Business School.

For WUSTL students who experience unforeseen financial emergencies, the Bauers’ endowed scholarship fund, set up especially for this reason, can mean the difference between staying in school or dropping out.

The importance of a strong education is one of George Bauer’s passions and he knows firsthand its transformative potential. WUSTL took him from a farm in rural Missouri to Europe, Africa and the Middle East during his 31-year career at IBM. After his retirement, George taught a course on information systems at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and now he heads the investment banking firm GPB Group Ltd.

George earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the School of Engineering & Applied Science, in 1953 and 1959, respectively. An active alumnus, he serves in many advisory positions, including the Board of Trustees and Olin’s National Council. As residents of Wilton, Conn., the Baurs also are involved in WUSTL’s New York Regional Cabinet.

The Bauers also are dedicated to ensuring quality medical services for their community, and Carol’s involvement at the Norwalk Hospital is long-term and multi-dimensional — she is a former chairperson of the board of trustees, the founder and leader of the hospital’s ER Reception Volunteers, and a chaplain, offering a comforting presence for those in need. Her community leadership has been recognized by the Rotary Foundation as well as the state of Connecticut, which bestowed upon her its Philanthropist of the Year Award.

Scott and Pyong Rudolph

Scott and Pyong Rudolph

The Rudolphs became acquainted with WUSTL through their son Michael, a junior at the Olin Business School. Soon after, they became actively involved in the university community as members of the Parents Council. Scott’s involvement continued to expand to include the Board of Trustees, where he serves on the Global Engagement Committee, as well as the Entrepreneurship National Council.

Their exceptional commitment to Washington University is rooted in a firm belief in creating a strong sense of community and in the importance of education. That support includes giving their time and expertise through advisory groups and generously supporting initiatives that will benefit not only the campus community but the wider world.

In 2010, the Rudolphs established a $1 million scholarship challenge to support the university’s “Opening Doors to the Future: The Scholarship Initiative for Washington University,” designed to provide deserving students with the financial resources necessary to receive their education here.

Their next gift, designated for the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, will establish the Scott Rudolph Professorship in Earth & Planetary Sciences. In recognition of the Rudolph’s extraordinary support, the Earth & Planetary Sciences building will be dedicated this spring in their name.

Scott is in the nutritional supplement business. After his first company, US Nutrition Inc., a supplier of vitamin, mineral and nutritional supplements, was purchased by NBTY Inc., Scott became its chief executive officer and chairman. Formerly Nature’s Bounty, NBTY is the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements. Currently, he is president of Piping Rock Health Products LLC.

The Rudolphs live in Upper Brookville, N.Y., and support enterprises in their community. Scott has been formally recognized by the New York State Senate for his commitment to youth activities and education, and also was honored for his contributions promoting Long Island.

This is the second of a three-part series highlighting this year’s Founders Day celebration. To read the first installment, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22867.aspx. To read the third and final installment, highlighting the Distinguished Alumni Award winners, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22889.aspx.