A Lasting Investment in Future Generations

Kellogg alumnus and his wife make unrestricted bequest to benefit school for years to come

For Scott Summerville ’88 MBA, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management was always the right business school for him to attend.

“When Scott was looking into graduate schools, Kellogg was the only one—it had to be Kellogg,” recalls his wife, Sue Van Winkle. “He was so impressed with Kellogg—the curriculum and school overall. Scott comes from a family that believes in the value of education for everyone. Both of his grandmothers received their college degrees in the early 1900s.”

Summerville graduated in 1988 from Kellogg’s Evening MBA Program, which at the time was called The Managers’ Program, and has since remained involved with the Kellogg community. In 2018, he and his wife committed to a bequest in their estate plan benefiting Kellogg with unrestricted support after their lifetimes.

“Making a bequest through your estate plan allows you to prepare today to make a significant and meaningful contribution in the future when you pass on,” says Summerville, who is president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Automation, based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, north of Chicago.

In the early 2000s, Summerville worked with Rockwell Automation, which took him and his wife to Asia; they lived in Hong Kong for seven years and in Beijing for three years. The couple found connection to the Kellogg community through the school’s Executive MBA partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where Summerville had the opportunity to present to classes on leadership. While there, they also enjoyed visits with Kellogg leaders such as former Dean Don Jacobs.

A Good Fit

“The DNA of Kellogg and Northwestern really fit with my personality and my goals,” Summerville says. “Kellogg made a definite impression on me. I enjoyed the curriculum and the classes, but most importantly, I enjoyed the camaraderie with the people that I met.”

Summerville and Van Winkle’s generosity touches a wide range of areas, including animal welfare, which led them to support the protection of the endangered moon bear during their time in Asia and since then. Summerville also supports children and young adults with disabilities through Mitsubishi’s philanthropy.

By making a bequest to a business school like Kellogg, Summerville says he feels confident his investment will affect future generations of students for many years. Bequests—often made through a will or trust—are an effective way to make a significant impact at Northwestern. They can be structured to support the University overall, or to target a particular school or program. Bequests are revocable, allowing donors to hold onto their assets while they are alive.

“So many things in the world are changing, but an institution like Northwestern University and Kellogg, has history, stability, and positive inertia,” he says. “You can invest in Kellogg with confidence, knowing that the money will be used in an impactful way.

Van Winkle adds, “This is our legacy and investment in the future. Our life and Scott’s career have benefited significantly by his time at Kellogg. In our own way, we would like to pass that on to future generations.”

Customize Your Gift to Northwestern

Contact Northwestern Gift Planning at 800-826-6709 or giftplanning@northwestern.edu for help tailoring your gift to fit your circumstances and accomplish your charitable goals.