Couple Gives $175-Million for Wisconsin College Students

John P. Morgridge, former chairman of Cisco Systems, and his wife, Tashia, a retired elementary school teacher, have donated $175-million to create the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, which will provide college-tuition grants to needy graduates of public schools, according to a press release on the fund’s Web site.

The grants, which do not have to be repaid, will supplement state and federal grants with about $1,000 to $5,000 for the 2008-9 school year. Mary Gulbrandsen, who retired in June as chief of staff and executive director of student services for the Madison Metropolitan School District, will serve as the fund’s executive director.

The Morgridges both are graduates of Wauwatosa High School, in Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. This year, they have supported the University of Denver with a donation of $10-million and contributed part of an $85-million gift to the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

“This is just the start,” said Mr. Morgridge in the news release. “We believe that the fund will grow substantially as others are inspired to join us in this effort.”