Donald F. Nash

Donald Nash was born and raised in Saginaw, and made it his home for 91 years. He graduated from Saginaw High School in 1925 and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan. Mr. Nash paid his way through college by working an assortment of jobs and borrowing money, which he paid back when he began practicing law in 1932. As a lawyer practicing during the Depression, Mr. Nash observed many people struggling for the basic needs of life. He supported opportunities that encouraged independence, such as reading.

Mr. Nash was a voracious reader who, even while struggling with macular degeneration, continued to educate himself with reading even when he needed the assistance of a reading machine. At the time of his death, Mr. Nash was working his way through a list of the 100 most notable books of the 20th Century.

This scholarship was established by Mr. Nash’s family with funds from his estate. The family continues to support the scholarship, knowing how pleased their father would be to know he was helping relieve students’ financial burdens so they could better concentrate on their studies at SVSU.