Scholarship Spotlight: A Long-Term Investment in Student Access

October 13, 2026

A line of student sit at a long table while working on their laptops

Students congregate and study at Babson Commons. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki/Babson College)

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Jack Waterstreet ’04 approached his Babson College education seriously from the very beginning, and he has never taken for granted the opportunities it opened for him

Jack Waterstreet ’04 initially donated to the Class of ’49 Scholarship and has since created the Waterstreet Family Scholarship

“I was really looking for a school that was going to give me a skill set to accomplish things in my career,” he said. “I was going to be paying for college, and it was a big bet on myself. And it was great … I felt it really prepared me for what I was able to do afterward.”

Looking back, Waterstreet appreciates the impact of scholarships on his own experience. In addition to financial aid, he was supported by mentors and encouraged to apply successfully for additional merit scholarships. That strengthened his motivation to give back ever to the College since graduation.

“I gave money initially to the Class of ’49 Scholarship, because they supported me and I wanted to pay it back so they could give it to other people who needed it,” he said. “Then I got a promotion at work and was feeling more confident in what I could do, so I started making pledges. That’s when we started the Waterstreet Family Scholarship.”

In recent years, Waterstreet has been donating to build up this named scholarship and increase its impact. He has strengthened its future with a planned gift, ensuring that he can make a difference for more students both during his lifetime and long afterward.

“If I can help somebody who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to Babson, or help them come out with substantially less debt, that’s a worthwhile thing to do,” he said.

“I’ve been very blessed with what I’ve been able to achieve in my career. I think Babson was a big part of it, and I want to make sure other people have that opportunity, too.”
Jack Waterstreet ’04

Waterstreet has been active with both his time and philanthropy, mentoring Waterstreet Family Scholarship recipients and following their progress and achievements. His ultimate goal is for the scholarship to inspire other people to pay it forward as well, making a life-changing education possible for even more people.

“My hope is that the money goes to a student who’s successful, and then they give back to another, and my gift has a multiplier effect,” he said. “I’ve been very blessed with what I’ve been able to achieve in my career. I think Babson was a big part of it, and I want to make sure other people have that opportunity, too.”