CHARLOTTE — Dr. Clark Ross, a college educator and longtime parishioner of St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville, has committed $2.3 million to an endowment through the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation to benefit Catholic high school students in Cabarrus, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Union counties.
The economics professor and past vice president of academic affairs at Davidson College is entrusting $2.3 million to the Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund upon his death. The planned endowment gift is expected to grow in value to benefit Catholic students both now and long after his death.
“For me, it is important that young people with spirituality attend fine educational institutions,” Ross said. “As a Roman Catholic, I center on Catholic students, but I do want them to be in an environment where all religions are respected.”
The Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund, which was set up in 2015, will be used to help “students in the Charlotte diocese who have need to attend one of our Charlotte-area Catholic high schools – particularly Christ the King High School, which is located near me and off to a good start in its first five years,” Ross said.
Besides this long-term planned endowment gift, Ross also provides annual financial assistance to students already attending Christ the King High School in Huntersville. He has also established a separate endowment for Catholic students in need, domestic or international, to attend Davidson College.
Ross’s financial assistance has already benefited several students, noted Dr. Carl Semmler, principal of Christ the King High School.
“Last year his (annual giving) fund assisted two students with financial aid, and this year he is assisting one student. Next year we expect at least one student to benefit from his generosity,” Semmler said.
Semmler lauded Ross for supporting students “who are hard-working academically, worshiping Catholics, contribute to the positive school environment and have financial need,” and for going beyond giving money to devoting his time and personal attention to students.
“He takes an interest in each student the scholarship helps. He likes to meet the student, chat and offer any type of support that is needed,” Semmler said.
He added, “This spring semester he had lunch with the students. He offered advice to students who wished to major in economics in college. For those students who were interested in Davidson College, he offered to act as a personal liaison in order to set up school tours and get information about scholarships.”
“Perhaps his greatest quality is that he feels strongly that any recipient of aid should be a good person who is faith filled and hard working in his or her classes. He wants to help students who are interested in making the world a better place,” Semmler said.
Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Thérèse Church, said Ross “has made a life commitment to education.”
“In his early days at Davidson College, he was instrumental in forming what is now a well-established Catholic campus ministry,” Father Lawlor said. “He gives from his heart and has been especially concerned for families that are passing through difficult financial times. He understands the importance of education, stability and faith. As pastor, I am very pleased with his Christian witness.”
“We are so grateful for Clark’s extraordinary commitment to Catholic high school students,” said Jim Kelley, development director for the Diocese of Charlotte. “His gift will literally impact thousands of students over the years. More and more parishioners are establishing endowments in the foundation, whether those gifts be in the thousands or millions of dollars.”
Founded in 1994, the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation now totals 257 endowments totaling more than $50 million in assets.
For details about endowments or estate gifts, contact Ray Correia, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
