Jennifer McGrath: Planning for ACCESS and Success

Jennifer “Jen” McGrath is a planner. Though still in her 40s, Jen has already included a gift in her estate plan to fund the Jennifer McGrath Endowed Scholarship for ACCESS Program Scholars in the College of Science at the University of Utah. ACCESS is a first-year community, research, and scholarship program for students in STEM disciplines.

Jen wants to provide for students because she credits her education at the university for getting her back on track after life didn’t go as planned. When she found herself living back in her parents’ basement and divorced, she decided to enroll at the university as a non-traditional student and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in urban planning and political science and her master’s degrees in public administration, real estate development, and legal studies. Jen’s education enabled her to go from feeling unable to support herself and plan for her future to having a fulfilling career in public service.

As Jen summarized, “I planned my estate to enable others to benefit from the gift of education and get started on their own paths to success.”

Inspired by their daughter’s perseverance and generosity, Jen’s parents even made a provision in their own estate plan to benefit her scholarship and leave a legacy of support for many generations to come.

Thanks to Jen’s planning, she can confidently continue on her successful path—which is leading her to France!