Buckles Family Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Criteria: Student recipients shall be enrolled as full-time students and shall represent and demonstrate the high ideals of the Mission, Vision, and Values of the University of Northwestern.

Scholarship Story:

The Buckles Family Memorial Scholarship reflects a deep, multi-generational connection to University of Northwestern – St. Paul and honors both the life of Peter Kent Buckles and the enduring legacy of the Buckles family as a whole.

This scholarship was originally established as the “Peter Kent Buckles Memorial Scholarship” following Peter’s passing on October 6th, 1994. In 2004, after the deaths of both of Peter’s parents, Lloyd and Wylma Buckles, the family chose to rename the fund the “Buckles Family Memorial Scholarship.” This change reflects the family’s desire to honor not only Peter’s life and influence, but also the many shared memories, relationships, and deep roots their family has at Northwestern.

A family member shared that, “UNW is very near and dear to our hearts. Many family members have attended school or worked at UNW.” Three generations of their family have attended school at University of Northwestern – St. Paul.

Peter Buckles entered Northwestern in the fall of 1975, and during his senior year, he served as an intern to the Vice President of Development, Gene Kordick, who became a generous mentor and later named Peter the Director of Public Relations. Peter also worked closely with former Northwestern president, Dr. Bill Berntsen.

Peter contributed to many lasting elements of campus life. As Peter watched the progress of the building of the Totino Fine Arts Center in 1982, he gave the “carousels” their name. While Peter was the Director of Public Relations at Northwestern, he was one of the employees instrumental in securing the golden eagle statue that all Northwestern visitors see when arriving on campus. The eagle statue was officially welcomed on campus during a dedication service on May 21st, 1987. At Peter’s funeral, Dr. Donald Ericksen, president of Northwestern at the time, announced that the eagle would be dedicated to Peter’s memory. Dr. Ericksen wrote the inscription for the plaque and added the verse, “You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasure of your eternal presence” (Psalm 16:11, The Living Bible). This verse reflects Peter’s joyful spirit and strong faith, which continue to inspire those who knew him and those who benefit from this scholarship.

Peter had hoped to establish a family scholarship during his lifetime, recognizing how much Northwestern had shaped his family across generations. Although he did not live to see that vision completed, his family fulfilled his hope through the establishment of this scholarship. After Peter’s death, following his second open-heart surgery, the memorial gifts to UNW were overwhelmingly generous, and Peter’s wife, Jayne, suggested that they use those gifts to set up the Buckles Family Scholarship and fulfill Peter’s great desire.