For Dr. John McGurl, CCAS BS’84, the decision to come to the George Washington University hinged on his desire to see the world and serve those in need.

His parents met as GW students, and their experiences resonated with him. “My parents had done a lot of traveling and had lived overseas, and I think that got me interested in large cities, international communities, and travel,” John said. “At the time, GW advertised they had students from all 50 states and 120 different countries, so I decided to follow in their footsteps to pursue my own education.”

John earned a biology degree from GW, his first step toward becoming a doctor. “I chose internal medicine because I wanted to focus on patients,” John said. “Being able to help people understand and treat their health issues has been truly fulfilling.”

After completing medical training, John worked at a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Myanmar for a year. This eye-opening experience confirmed his desire to treat under-resourced populations closer to home, and led him to spend 25 years caring for patients at the Veterans’ Administration in Richmond, Virginia.

John and his partner, Michelle Gluck, have also committed to helping the next generation of GW students. Together, they have established the John McGurl and Michelle Gluck Endowed

Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide need-based scholarships for undergraduate students in the Columbian College majoring in chemistry, math, physics, biology, or computer science. They’ve chosen to fund this scholarship in two ways: by naming GW as a beneficiary of John's retirement plan and through outright gifts.

"Being involved with GW has been a deeply enriching experience. Meeting the students, faculty, and other donors has reaffirmed my belief in the power of education,” John said. “For those of us who have the ability to help the next generation of students, it is important that we do.”

John directly links his involvement at GW to his deeply-held belief that one should serve others — and always retain a passion for learning.

“Supporting GW’s scholarship efforts is important to me because education is expensive, but ignorance is even more expensive. Education is what will sustain and shape the future of our country and of the planet. It’s rewarding to be able to give the opportunity of a GW education to those who have overcome incredible obstacles to get here.”