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The Futures Fellowship offers a ‘relief valve’ for students to better focus on their studies and families while in school

For the McLarens, the University of Colorado Boulder is a bit of a family affair.

It began with John McLaren’s father, a retired naval officer, who came to CU Boulder in pursuit of a PhD in 1983. From there, John McLaren (Geol’93) enrolled and met Karen McLaren (Edu, Psych’94; MEdu’98) during a women’s studies course. Three of their sons eventually became CU Boulder students and, in turn, met their significant others within the university walls.

And now, John and Karen are giving back to other families at the university through the Futures Fellowship.

This award, which began this year, provides financial support for graduate students and their immediate families. The idea, according to John and Karen, is not to give a full-ride scholarship, but instead to provide a “relief valve” to help students better focus on their studies and families while in school.

John and Karen McLaren in 1992 when they were students at CU Boulder. Photo courtesy of the McLarens.

“Hopefully this award gives them (graduate students) the flexibility—if they’re working or pursuing a degree full time and have a family—to focus on the things that are most important to them,” Karen said.

John agreed, adding that while this award is not designed to take away all the pressures, “maybe it provides a little bit of relief to focus on the things that are more productive for you, building a better person or path by doing that.”

For the students who received the award this past spring, the overwhelming consensus was that the award was incredibly helpful.

“I wanted to express my deepest thanks to the McLaren family for their generous donation to the Futures Fellowship at CU Boulder,” said one recipient. “I am humbled to have been chosen for this award. As an anthropologist, I spend a great deal of time researching and writing about the unique challenges people face in pregnancy and parenthood. This award's recognition of the labor it takes to produce high-quality research while balancing the financial and emotional responsibilities of parenting reaffirms my commitment to my own research topic as well as my family and educational goals. Thank you for your support!”

Another recipient, a PhD candidate, agreed: “I hope it may bring you some warmth to know your contribution will help my family thrive as I work to make it toward the finish line.”

From humble beginnings

John first came to Boulder as a young teenager when his father, newly retired from the navy, decided to pursue a PhD. He chose CU Boulder because, as John put it, “���Ĺ���ý was too rainy, Southern California was going to get me into too much trouble, and Boulder was a nice place to be.”

Upon graduation from Nederland High School, John himself enrolled at CU Boulder, joined the campus Naval ROTC program, and studied geology. His time here, though, did not go as planned.

“Looking back, in retrospect, I think that I really probably had enough entrepreneur in me that (geology) wasn’t quite the right fit, but again you look back and say you’re obviously very fortunate to have earned a college degree,” John said.

Despite his undergraduate struggles, he still pushed forward and eventually completed his MBA at Regis University in Denver.

Karen’s path to Colorado took a bit longer. Born in Massachusetts, Karen first attended a small school in North Carolina called Guilford College. But when her father got a job in Colorado, she decided the distance was too far and followed, along with her two brothers. It was at CU Boulder that she and John met, and they eventually married at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church. She then stayed on campus to pursue a master’s in education.

The McLaren family now. Photo courtesy of the McLarens.

They began growing their family while in graduate school which, they both acknowledge, was challenging, both timewise and financially. It was a “bandwidth creating moment,” John said, adding: “But somehow we did it.”

Giving back

Although the McLarens moved out of state years ago to pursue careers in teaching and commercial real estate, their attachment to CU Boulder never faded.

Even after leaving, they still came back to Boulder frequently to visit John’s father, who lived in Boulder Canyon. And when it came time for their sons to begin their college searches, all three ended up coming to CU Boulder and, as John had when he was an undergraduate, joined the Naval ROTC program. Their youngest son graduated and was commissioned into service this past May. 

For years now, ever since their oldest became a student, the McLarens have given back to the university. At first it was just toward the Naval ROTC program, but it eventually grew to sponsoring the room within the Colorado Law library where they had their first date, and then to the Graduate School and the Futures Fellowship.

And those charitable contributions have been deeply appreciated.

“I want to thank the donors of this fellowship from the bottom of my heart as this fellowship will help me thrive in my career,” said another recipient of the Futures Fellowship, an international student. “I really appreciate them for taking such a beautiful step to encourage students like us.”

More information on the 2025 Futures Fellowship will be announced by the Graduate School in the fall.