The Henry & Virginia Grabowski STEM Challenge
Dr. Steven Spencer ’94 Supports the STEM Challenge
In 2022, Girard College called upon its community to invest in the future of innovation through the Henry & Virginia Grabowski STEM Challenge – a visionary effort to build a state-of-the-art STEM Center that will empower Girard students to become the scientists, engineers, and leaders of tomorrow.
In 2025, Steven Spencer ’94, MD, MPH, MBA, continues to inspire the Girard community! After making his first gift to the STEM Challenge in 2023, Dr. Spencer has pledged $50,000 to strengthen the fund and is calling on his fellow alumni to join him in empowering the next generation of Girard scholars through STEM.
“In the spirit of the STEM Challenge, I’m asking for all alumni, but especially alumni from the classes of 1990 to 1999, to join me in supporting this critical program,” Spencer said. “Join the STEM movement at Girard and help us meet our goal.”
“In the spirit of the STEM Challenge, I’m asking for all alumni, but especially alumni from the classes of 1990 to 1999, to join me in supporting this critical program, Spencer said. “Join the STEM movement at Girard and help us meet our goal.”
Dr. Spencer’s leadership exemplifies the Girard spirit—bold, generous, and forward-thinking. With the support of alumni and friends, the Grabowski STEM Challenge will open doors to opportunity, curiosity, and discovery for generations to come.
Investing in the Future: The Grabowski STEM Challenge Inspires Girard’s Next Generation of Innovators
2022 was the year that Girard College called on its community to imagine – and invest in – a bold future for STEM education. That call came in the form of the Henry & Virginia Grabowski STEM Challenge, a transformative initiative that continues to fuel our vision for a state-of-the-art STEM Center where Girard scholars can dream, design, and build the future.
Today, that vision is closer than ever.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Dr. Henry Grabowski, Class of 1958, and his wife, Virginia, Girard’s STEM journey began with a $500,000 challenge gift that continues to spark momentum in 2025. Their gift launched a movement – one that invites alumni, corporations, and partners to match their generosity and equip our scholars with the teachers, programs, and technology they deserve to thrive in fields like health science, engineering, and computer science.
This challenge builds upon $1 million in RACP funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and represents a defining moment in Girard’s mission to prepare students for the world of tomorrow – a world being rewritten by innovation.
“I benefited from an excellent education in the STEM fields,” said Dr. Grabowski. “STEM education and research will be essential to solving many of our current global challenges. It’s vital that Girard students gain the knowledge and inspiration to pursue these fields – from their earliest grades through graduation.”
A Scholar, a Leader, and a Visionary
Dr. Grabowski’s journey from Girard’s historic campus to global impact is one of deep purpose and lifelong learning. After graduating as Valedictorian in 1958, during the dawn of the space age, he earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. in econometrics from Princeton University.
Over his distinguished career at Duke University, Dr. Grabowski served as Chairman of the Economics Department and Director of the Duke Program in Pharmaceuticals and Health Economics. His groundbreaking research on innovation and biopharmaceutical economics has influenced global policy, shaping how new medical treatments are developed and delivered.
He also served as a visiting scholar at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and testified before Congress, advocating for incentives to drive research into neglected diseases – a powerful example of how knowledge can lead to justice and progress.
The Next Frontier for Girard Scholars
When Henry Grabowski was writing for The Girardian in the late 1950s, the world was racing toward the stars. Today, our students are racing toward a new frontier – one defined by artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Many of the careers awaiting them don’t even exist yet, and Girard College is determined to ensure they are ready to lead.
Planning for the Girard College STEM Center includes a collaborative design process guided by students, educators, and STEM professionals. From classrooms and makerspaces to labs and faculty development, every detail aims to empower scholars to explore, experiment, and excel.
The College has partnered with Dan Bosin Associates, a leading project management firm, to evaluate and design optimal learning spaces that inspire creativity and innovation.
Representation Matters: Building a Future for All
Representation in STEM is more than a goal – it’s a responsibility. At Girard, the commitment is clear: to ensure every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to discover their passion, develop their talent, and make a difference in the world. By expanding exposure to diverse role models, professional mentors, and real-world opportunities, Girard is shaping the next generation of innovators who reflect the world they will help build.
A Challenge That Transforms Lives
The Grabowski STEM Challenge is more than philanthropy – it’s partnership in action. Dr. Grabowski’s leadership and generosity continue to remind us that when we invest in our students, we invest in the future.
As we continue into 2025 and beyond, the Henry & Virginia Grabowski STEM Challenge stands as both an invitation and an inspiration – calling on the Girard community and friends everywhere to help shape the innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders of tomorrow.
Together, we can turn curiosity into discovery – and potential into progress.
Join the Challenge – Build the Future
Every innovation begins with a spark – and you can help light the way. Your support of The Henry & Virginia Grabowski STEM Challenge ensures that Girard scholars have the resources, mentorship, and inspiration to pursue their dreams and lead in a rapidly changing world.
Join us in creating opportunities that will empower generations of students to think boldly, learn deeply, and change the world.
👉 Give today. Invest in tomorrow. Build the future with Girard College.
Giving By Check
If you would prefer to make a gift via check, please make it out to The Fund for Girard College, write “STEM Challenge” in the memo line, and mail to:
The Fund for Girard College
PO Box 15050
1939 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
