90 Lohr Ways to Make a Difference

Jerry Lohr ’58 first set foot on the South Dakota State University campus on September 9, 1954. Today, one can’t set foot on campus without seeing traces of Jerry’s generosity – and impact – around every corner. 

From the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering to the home of the SDSU Alumni & Foundation, from several academic and research spaces to an endowed faculty position, his name and the indelible mark of his spirit of giving are everywhere. 

Yet Jerry’s greatest transformation at SDSU might stem from the $7.7 million he’s invested in scholarships over the past four decades, and he continues to be among the largest providers of scholarships at State to this day.

With Jerry’s 90^th birthday approaching on January 1, 2027, a circle of his family, close friends, and colleagues have championed the idea of funding 90 scholarships in his honor for the 2027-28 academic year. Jerry has stood as a giant at SDSU when it comes to his unparalleled commitment of time and resources. Since his own days as a student, he has tirelessly worked to cultivate generosity at State and leverage his national stature to the benefit of his alma mater. Jerry chaired all three of the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaigns. He instilled his own deep belief in giving back in countless other donors, inspiring the next generations to join in his transformative investments. He uplifted the college where his career first began, setting the course for a new era of innovators and leaders. Hundreds, if not thousands, of students have received a premier education because of Jerry’s philanthropy, and this initiative will ensure his legacy only grows for aspiring engineers following in his sizeable footsteps. 

The entire yellow and blue community is invited to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recognize a once-in-a-lifetime benefactor of SDSU. Interested donors can help by establishing a new scholarship, growing an existing one, or making a gift to the general scholarship fund to be awarded in fall 2027.

By Jerry’s 90th birthday, 26,397 days will have passed since he first arrived on campus. In the decades since, he has truly raised the bar in what it means to lead by example. Jerry spearheaded a bold vision for the place he believed South Dakota State could be – a place where loyalty lives. A place where, because of donor generosity, students much like himself will learn to be difference-makers: chasing an ambitious future, dreaming boldly for the yellow and blue, and encouraging others to join in forging a path forward.

Here’s to Jerry.