Announcement of The McKeough Family Endowed Fund for the Washington Minimester
COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA AND PRESS OFFICE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release | December 1, 2025
Announcement of The McKeough Family Endowed Fund for the Washington Minimester
The McKeough Family Establishes Endowed Fund to Expand Access to Villanova University’s Washington Minimester Program
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Andrew McKeough ‘19 CLAS and the McKeough Family are proud to announce the establishment of two significant funds designed to support student success and accessibility at Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: The McKeough Family Endowed Fund for the Washington Minimester and The McKeough Family Fund for the Washington Minimester.
The primary purpose of both funds is to provide critical financial aid for students participating in the University’s prestigious Washington Minimester program. By alleviating the financial burden associated with studying away, the McKeough Family aims to ensure that transformative political and cultural learning experiences in the nation’s capital are accessible to deserving students, regardless of their financial background.
"The Washington Minimester offers students a unique window into the workings of our government and the history of our nation," said Andrew McKeough in a statement. "Our family believes deeply in the value of this immersive educational experience at Villanova. By establishing these funds, we hope to remove financial barriers so that more Villanovans can take advantage of this incredible opportunity, while creating a legacy of support that is designed to last for all time."
The gift includes an endowment component, ensuring perpetual support for future generations of Wildcats, as well as a fund for immediate use to impact students currently entering the program.
The endowment will go into immediate effect to help give students the financial aid needed for the 2026 program. The funds are structured with flexibility to maximize impact. While the priority is student financial aid, provisions have been made to ensure resources are never left idle. If, in a given year, all available funds are not utilized for financial assistance, remaining assets may be directed to support the general operation of the Washington Minimester program. This allocation will be determined at the discretion of the Director of the Washington Minimester program in consultation with the Director of Financial Assistance at Villanova University.
To ensure transparency and continued engagement, Villanova University will provide an annual report to the McKeough Family. This report will detail the financial activity of the Fund and highlight the impact on the student body, honoring the family's commitment to the University's educational mission.
About the Washington Minimester
The Washington Minimester at Villanova University is an immersive academic program that takes place in Washington, D.C. It provides students with the opportunity to explore political processes, history, and media through on-site coursework, tours, and interaction with policy-makers and alumni.
About Villanova University
Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.
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