Julius F. Bartus Endowed Memorial Scholarship

“When donors choose to make gifts after they are gone, that choice builds on lifetimes dedicated to philanthropy and service. It also shows an incredible faith that the recipient will use the funding for the intent it was given.”

– Michael Bartus (AB ’70, MPH ’75)

The Julius F. Bartus Endowed Memorial Scholarship was created in 2010 through a gift from the estate of the late Zelda V. Bartus in memory of her husband, who died in 1995. “My parents’ lives were changed by what the University opened up to them,” said David Bartus (BSE CH ’79, MSE ’81, Ph.D ’87), of Vashon Island, Washington. “This gift reflects the support they received as students and the affection they both had for Michigan.”

Michael Bartus (AB ’70, MPH ’75) added that his parents’ gift inspired him to make a commitment through his own estate to establish the Michael F. Bartus and Leonard J. Krass Endowed Scholarship Fund. “When donors choose to make gifts after they are gone, that choice builds on lifetimes dedicated to philanthropy and service. It also shows an incredible faith that the recipient will use the funding for the intent it was given.”

The Bartus History

Julius F. (BSE CE ’36) and Zelda V. Bartus (AB ’39, CERTT EDUC ’39) met as University of Michigan undergraduates. Julius, originally from Holland, New York, was vice president of the Class of 1935E and involved with Scabbard and Blade, Polonia Literary Circle, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Zelda was one of eight children from a Dewitt, Michigan farming family, and the only one to attend college. Both Julius and Zelda received scholarships while at U-M.

They married just before the start of the Second World War. During the war, Julius served as a commissioned civil engineering officer in the European Theater, drawing on his U-M engineering degree and ROTC training. After the war, Julius and Zelda settled in Ann Arbor to raise their family in the university environment they had grown to love as students. Julius went on to launch his own business, playing an important role in the development of King Engineering, a supplier of instrumentation for a variety of manufacturing industries. Zelda applied her education as a high school Latin and French teacher.

Scholarship Administration

The Julius F. Bartus Endowed Memorial Scholarship is administered by the dean of the College of Engineering. It provides support for students enrolled in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering who have financial need.

 

Criteria for Eligibility

  • Undergraduate students in Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Chemical Engineering, OR
  • Civil & Environmental Engineering students enrolled in a SUGS program, AND
  • Have financial need