CANTON — St. Lawrence University will receive a $1.5 million gift from Jan Egbers P'21 who wants to positively impact mental health services on campus and the Laurentian staff members who support students' emotional wellbeing.

"We are so thankful for this generous-and especially meaningful-contribution from Jan Egbers," said President Kathryn A. Morris. "It demonstrates Laurentian compassion and the profound connections that are a hallmark of our community."

The purpose of the gift is to create an endowment that supports St. Lawrence health and counseling services, with a focus on the emotional wellness of student-athletes.

In accordance with the donor's wishes, the fund also honors retiring long-time Head Golf Coach Mary Lawrence by naming the position the Mary A. Lawrence Head Coach for Men's and Women's Golf. It recognizes the positive impact she had on countless student-athletes.

"During my son's (Tom Egbers '21) time on campus he experienced difficult events that impacted him deeply, and he feels fortunate and grateful to Mary who helped guide him through challenging times," said Egbers. "The relationship between players and coaches is critical and Tom's experience underscored the need for more dedicated resources to support counseling."

Completing her 23rd and final year as head coach, Mary has built the men's and women's programs into highly competitive teams. A proponent of the mental training of athletes, Mary emphasizes the health of each student-athlete. She recognizes the value in this type of preparation for success on the golf course and beyond.

As a parent, Egbers could see how Mary helped students find their resilience through challenging times. Establishing this fund illuminates the importance of player-coach relationships and meets the need for dedicated resources that support counseling at St. Lawrence.

For more information on this gift or on creating an endowed fund, please contact Terri Selby, Executive Director of Major and Planned Gifts at tselby@stlawu.edu or 315-229-5542.