The Power of a Mentor
A scholarship from Steven ‘10 and Emily Loh ‘13 honors an influential mentor while opening doors for future Owls.
Steven Loh ’10 came to Rice expecting to prepare for a career in business and majored in mathematical economic analysis. Then a small class with the late Edward Anderson, a humanities professor, opened the door to a different path of exploration. Anderson encouraged Steven to follow his interest in the classical world, even if it had little to do with his eventual career. Steven took his advice and ultimately added a second major in classical studies.
“We both knew I would likely go into business, and Professor Anderson asked, ‘When else are you going to learn about classics and explore and expand your brain?’”
What began in the classroom became an enduring mentorship. During Steven’s senior year, the two worked together on an independent study. They also shared dinners, played racquetball together weekly and talked about the future. As Steven prepared for life after Rice, Anderson offered guidance that was personal as it was academic, encouraging him to stay true to himself wherever his career took him. “He was a good mentor,” Steven says. “He helped keep me grounded.”
Professor Edward Anderson, honored through the Loh Family Endowed Scholarship
Years later, Anderson’s influence remains with Steven. Now, Steven and his wife, Emily Loh ’13, are honoring that legacy through the Loh Family Endowed Scholarship in honor of Anderson. The scholarship provides financial assistance to Rice undergraduates through The Rice Investment, the university’s signature financial aid program.
For Steven, that support goes beyond making it possible for more students to attend Rice. He hopes it gives students of all backgrounds the freedom to explore, form meaningful connections and discover interests they may never have anticipated, just as Anderson encouraged him to do.
That commitment is shared by Emily, a professional musician who earned her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Shepherd School of Music.
“Rice was always my first-choice school, and I am so grateful to be an alumna. I had the opportunity to have a full college experience while also getting a conservatory-level music education. The mentorship that I had and relationships I began at Rice still shape my life to this day. I’m thrilled to be a small part of helping someone else make their Rice dreams come true,” she says.
For the couple, the scholarship is both a tribute to an influential mentor and an investment in future Owls. They see this endowment as a long-term commitment that they can continue to build over time and a way to extend the influence of a mentor who believed strongly in the power of education and personal growth.
“Giving back to the things that helped you get to where you are is very important,” Steven says. “Staying involved and staying engaged, both with our time and our money, can go a lot further than people think.”
Accelerate the Vision
Through The Rice Investment, you can support today’s Owls while building a philanthropic legacy for the future. To learn how to get started, email giving@rice.edu or call 713-348-4600.
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Giving to Rice
Development & Alumni Relations
P.O. BOX 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Phone: 713-348-4991
Email: giving@rice.edu
