A new fund, named in honor of Shirley Dudek Demmer, will support students studying women's and gender studies.  Read the full story.

Rochester Hills attorneys Frederick W. Hoffman and James R. Stokes have enjoyed satisfying and fulfilling careers since their days at UM-Dearborn several decades ago. Hoffman is a 1973 UM-Dearborn graduate and his partner Stokes did an internship at the campus while completing a master’s degree in counseling, and worked part-time on campus while attending law school.

Now Hoffman and Stokes have decided to provide opportunities for others, and have
contributed $10,000 to establish a scholarship fund for students active in the campus’s gay/
straight alliance or interested in gender identity or sexual identity issues. Preference will be
given to students involved in community affairs or interested in law and public policy.

“We saw this underserved community who could benefit not only from financial aid, but also from the mentoring and networking support that we hope will grow among the scholarship recipients over a period of years,” Hoffman said.

Several years ago, they established a similar scholarship program at Henry Ford Community
College and the first Stokes-Hoffman Scholar was selected last fall.

Both Hoffman and Stokes are graduates of the Detroit College of Law and are very active
in the community.

Hoffman, state relations director at Chrysler, is honorary consul for Germany in southeastern Michigan and a member of the executive committee of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He also is a member of the CASL dean’s advisory committee.

Stokes, who serves as Governor Granholm’s director of appointments, is engaged in
a number of civic pursuits, particularly in the Arab-American community.  Students will be able to apply for the Stokes-Hoffman Scholarship beginning this fall, for use during the 2009-2010 academic year.