Michael A. Bonarti ’87 and Judith Germano ’91 are among the more than 50 Cornell alumni—representing class years that span seven decades—who established or significantly enhanced new affordability scholarships in fiscal year 2023. The couple leveraged the Undergraduate Affordability Challenge Match program to extend the reach and power of their gift.

“Since neither of our families was able to finance in full the cost of our undergraduate educations, we are grateful to have benefited from the generosity of earlier Cornell alums who made our attendance possible,” the couple said in a joint statement. “Our Cornell education opened doors that led to successful professional careers for each of us as attorneys, and we have always felt committed to giving back to one of the finest institutions of higher learning.”

“We believe education is the great equalizer in our society, and our hope is that by supporting the Cornell Undergraduate Affordability Initiative, we are doing some good to help others enjoy the same extraordinary Cornell education that so benefitted both of us.”