The Last Mile Scholarship

Among the family of Westfield State alumni, there is a group who might not have been able to graduate, without the generosity of a man they never knew.

That’s how Paul W. Dower wanted it. A World War II veteran, printer, engraver, graphic designer and lifelong skier-spelunker-hiker, Dower spent the last years of his century-long life helping people anonymously.

Content to fly under the radar, Paul spent part of his accumulated wealth giving a financial boost to final-semester Westfield State students. His support made the University’s Last Mile Fund possible, a fund with a 97 percent success rate in helping students make it to graduation.

Dower, who studied at Westfield State, was a World War II veteran and worked in the printing, engraving, and graphic design industry. A South Hadley native, he lived in Holyoke for many years, and developed and introduced others to his myriad of outdoor interests, including hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, spelunking, trailblazing, gardening, and skiing, especially, Mount Tom. An avid skier until his late 80s, Dower was one of few individuals granted a “lifetime membership” to Vermont’s Killington Ski Resort. Nine days before his passing in June 2020, Paul achieved a personal goal by celebrating his 100th birthday.

The brother of the late Catherine A. Dower, a Westfield State music professor who died in 2017, Paul Dower was a long-time supporter of the University and was inspired to give back to the Last Mile Fund after learning about its target audience. Known for his passion for helping others, he sought to assist students from financially challenged backgrounds to pursue their college degree with meaningful scholarship support.