The Importance of Scholarships
“Central College has had a profound impact on my life.”
– Bill Rankin ’69
Major: Psychology
Campus Activities: ΘΚΑ, Psychology Club, KCUI Radio, Band (Symphonic and Pep), Orchestra, Student Senate, Intramurals, SEA, Math Club, Circle K, Wind Ensemble, Sophomore Class President and Campus Activities Board Vice President.
Scholarship: Pella Corporation Scholarship
Advanced Degrees: M.S., Psychology, and Ph.D., Human Performance and Cognitive Psychology, Washington State University
Career: President, William L. Rankin Consulting (Individual and Organizational Performance); Executive, Boeing Corporation (Retired)
Location: Seattle, Washington
Service to Central: Member, Board of Trustees; Cornerstone Society; Central Heritage Roll of Honor; Central Recruitment Network; 1853 Club; Campaign Cabinet — Education Psychology; Founders, Baron Scholarship and Rankin/Nakahara Scholarship; National Advisory Council; Former Class Representative; Planned Giving Donors; and Alumni Event Hosts.
Bill Rankin ’69, and his wife, Lori F. Nakahara, named Central College as the main beneficiary in their will to establish the Rankin/Nakahara Scholarship for Central psychology and education majors. Bill benefited from scholarships as a student and believes it is important to provide scholarship resources to others.
“Central College has had a profound impact on my life. I found that a kid from small-town Iowa could compete academically with students from far larger East Coast schools. I also discovered my interest in experimental psychology when the passion for psychology of faculty members Jim Schulze, Ed Willis and Dan Gilmore was infectious and rubbed off on me. Suddenly I had an academic goal—a Ph.D. in experimental psychology! My liberal arts education at Central served as a solid basis for my continued graduate school education and also fostered my love for theatre and orchestra.
“Lori and I have no children, and our family members are well taken care of financially, so we have been helping Central for decades now. I established the Baron Scholarship in honor of my grandparents in the 1970s. More recently, Lori and I donated to the new education and psychology building (Roe Center). When Lori and I finally got around to making out a will a few years ago, it was only natural for us to make Central College our main benefactor. I have, however, warned Central development staff that my favorite bumper sticker is ‘Being of sound mind, I spent it all’.”