September 30, 2003 
 
Roger Jean '70 worked his way through college, and now he hopes to ease the way for other Saint Anselm College students.

Jean, executive vice president of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and president of Liberty Regional Agency Markets, recently endowed a $250,000 scholarship fund for students from New Hampshire.

Jean says he was a "townie" when he attended Saint Anselm as a history major. "My parents gave me what support they could," he said. "But I had to work full time."

He juggled his studies while putting in almost a full work week as an assistant manager in a Manchester, NH, shoe store. With his parents' assistance, his earnings, and a few loans, Jean paid his way through school. He even managed to graduate with his class by taking four summer classes between his junior and senior years.

"But my grades were nothing to brag about," he said.

It was an admirable achievement, but Jean says it wasn't the best possible way to earn a degree. "I didn't have the true college experience," he said.

He hopes the Francine E. and Roger L. Jean Family Scholarship Fund will allow deserving New Hampshire students to afford Saint Anselm.

Jean also supports Saint Anselm in other ways. He is a college trustee and works with the Corporate Partners program, which provides scholarships to top students.

"Money is a deciding factor for many students who want to attend Saint Anselm," he said. "Financial aid says to those students that if you're committed to studying and not afraid to work hard, if you're focused on succeeding, then you can come to Saint Anselm and create your own definition of success. If students truly want this kind of education, we're proud to help provide it. At Saint Anselm, they have the opportunity to be filled with purpose."