Francis "Rusty" Rost
Francis (Rusty) Rost established this fund in loving memory of his wife, Hong Rost.
Hong Rost (1959–2014) came to Wisconsin from China in 1991 and graduated with her Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1994; then worked there as Assistant Director of International Education from 1995 to 2010. In 2010, Hong joined the academic staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stout as Director of International Education where she served until her death by auto accident on June 19, 2014. In big and small ways, she helped every international student during that entire time frame achieve their educational objectives. The social media and on-line comments of people from around the world on news of her death show how much they as individuals were impacted by Hong’s life. Many of these alums have gone on to successful careers; some have taken over family businesses.
This fund will serve as a vehicle to connect international alumni and UW-L. Hong touched many lives because she was a people person; and wonderfully giving and loving. This Fund will further make alums think of UW-L when they think of Hong.
Hong was a visionary. Students, Faculty, and staff responded enthusiastically to Hong’s hard work, imaginative ideas, encouragement and help for them to pursue their own opportunities. Hong was not afraid of change—in fact that’s what energized her. She was always asking her staff to think about how to improve the office’s services to the students. Hong’s high energy, generosity, faith and sincere interest in people have left a permanent mark of inspiration in all who knew her. Learn more about Hong and her life at https://globaledblog.wordpress.com/
Impact
Her husband, Francis “Rusty” Rost, says Hong inspired hundreds of students when they came to La Crosse. “In big and small ways, she helped every international student during that time frame achieve their educational objectives,” notes Rost.
The Hong Rost International Scholarship Fund will be awarded to undergraduate or graduate international students enrolled full time at UW-L. “This fund will serve as a vehicle to connect international alumni and UW-L,” says Rusty Rost. “Hong touched many lives because she was a people person, and wonderfully giving and loving.”
Hong Rost took the success she helped create in UW-L’s program to UW-Stout when she became director there. In four years, she doubled the number of international students.
That’s why Rusty has also established a scholarship at Stout. He says they are much more than scholarships. Foundations at both plan to share Hong’s story as an example to inspire and challenge students, he says. Also, donors can become “founders” to oversee the awards, along with strengthening relations between international alumni and the campus.