In 2024, Edward Lopez CC’82, P: CC’11, CC’14 and his wife, Linda Perry P: CC’11, CC’14, established the Lopez Family Scholarship Fund to support students like Ed’s younger self: big ambitions, limited financial means and a drive to make the most of a Columbia education. Their goal was to help open the door for future Columbians who might see themselves in Ed’s journey — students who, thanks to the scholarship, can not only pursue their education but also know that someone with a shared story believed in their potential.

By creating their scholarship, Ed and Linda became members of the College Walk Society, a community of alumni, parents and friends who believe that the pursuit of knowledge should never be limited by financial circumstances. Building on two decades of dedication to financial aid at Columbia, Ed and Linda’s newest commitment ensures that Columbia can meet the full demonstrated need of its students today and in the future.

Ed often reflects on how Columbia was the place that truly changed the course of his life. He first applied to Columbia simply because he had heard it was a “good school.” Though accepted out of high school, he chose to attend Manhattan College on a full scholarship. By the end of his first semester, he realized that he had made a mistake and that Columbia offered a richness of ideas and experiences that would open his thinking and broaden his perspective. He decided to reapply, and when he was accepted as a sophomore, he found where he truly belonged.

Navigating life as a commuter student came with its own rhythm. Ed spent three hours a day on the subway, moving between the housing projects of the Bronx and the academic life of Morningside Heights. While balancing off-campus responsibilities with a full course load, he found in Columbia’s Core Curriculum a gateway to intellectual exploration, sparking an interest in classical literature, philosophy, art and music. The experience stayed with him, encouraging him to engage deeply with ideas and cultures beyond his everyday surroundings. His Columbia experience introduced him to the city’s rich cultural offerings, including his first visits to The Met, Lincoln Center and Broadway performances.

Some of Ed’s most cherished memories from his time at Columbia are the simple ones: afternoons spent on the Low Steps and immersive lectures about Don Quixote in his class with Professor Selig, who marked the arrival of spring by opening the windows wide. These moments offered small but meaningful reminders of the vibrant campus life that surrounded and sustained him through his demanding schedule.

Born at Woman’s Hospital on 109th Street and raised by Puerto Rican parents in the Bronx, his connection to Columbia predates his own admission. His grandfather once worked as a custodian at the University, just blocks from the classrooms Ed would later attend. Yet for much of his early life, Columbia seemed to be a world away from his family’s day-to-day reality.

Now, that once-distant institution is a lasting part of the family’s history, woven into their past, present and hopes for the future. As members of the College Walk Society, Ed and Linda are proud to play a part in sustaining Columbia’s long-standing commitment to access and opportunity. Columbia is not just Ed’s alma mater, but at the heart of the Lopez family story. He and Linda were proud when their sons, Bart CC’11 and Douglas CC’14, began their own Columbia journeys.

“Columbia is simply a part of our lives,” Ed says. “When we discuss grandchildren going to college, the discussion is not about ‘going to college’, but about ‘going to Columbia.’”