By Mick Dillon / The Jambar
Dr. Erdal Sarac has partnered with the Youngstown State University Foundation to establish a new scholarship aiding Turkish high school students, with preference given to Darüşşafaka Schools — Sarac’s alma mater.
Sarac is a nephrologist, a medical physician specializing in treating kidney diseases, and professor at Northeast Ohio Medical School. He stated he feels this new scholarship is a way for him to give back to the schools and the community that helped him achieve success in the U.S.
“This scholarship is my way of opening doors for others as they were opened for me,” Sarac stated. “I believe educational exchange builds understanding and tolerance between our cultures, strengthening the bond of friendship between Türkiye and the United States — one student, one family, one community at a time.”
The YSU Foundation was founded in 1966 by former YSU President Howard Jones, with an initial endowment of $12 million. Today, the foundation manages $390 million and is providing the university with $11.5 million this year, primarily in scholarship aid.
YSU Foundation President Paul McFadden has been involved with fundraising for the university since 1992 and has been serving in his current role with the foundation since 2012.
In response to the scholarship’s creation, McFadden said Dr. Sergul Erzurum, an ophthalmologist and Sarac’s wife, initiated the idea.
“[Erzurum] knows us very well and had been thinking about this for some time. So, actually, she reached out to me,” McFadden said. “What a unique and special scholarship. It’s going to change those young peoples’ lives to come not only to the United States, but to Youngstown and YSU, and earn their college degree that will help them have a successful life.”
YSU had 351 new international students enrolled for the 2025 fall semester, continuing the trend of international enrollment growth for two years in a row. McFadden said the foundation is always working to provide new opportunities for international students.
“We really wish we had more scholarships for our international students. Every day we’re looking for more student scholarship opportunities,” McFadden said. “Of course, we see what’s going on at the university, and with the growth of the international population, it has become more of an emphasis than it has been in the past.”
While the YSU Foundation does plenty of work providing students with scholarship opportunities, that is not the only thing on its agenda.
McFadden said the foundation also focuses on fundraising initiatives for the university.
“Our job is to fundraise for the university,” McFadden said. “One of our big focuses is Kilcawley Center. Every day, we’re trying to embrace alumni and benefactors to support our students and make their life experience on campus better.”
With the main source of revenue for the foundation coming from YSU alumni, McFadden stressed the importance of finding an avenue for each donor to make a positive impact.
“Somebody who is in the health professions had a very different experience than somebody who is in the [Williamson College of Business Administration] or in the [Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Studies and Education]. So, it’s where they touch the university most often is where they want to impact the university,” McFadden said. “We embrace our alumni and their love for YSU, and the area that they love YSU.”