Semester at Sea has received the largest individual financial gift in its history—a transformative $3.6 million estate gift from beloved alumnus, photographer, author, and teacher Paul Liebhardt.
Establishing the Anna and Paul Liebhardt Scholarship Fund
As the largest individual financial gift in the program’s history, this extraordinary bequest establishes the Anna and Paul Liebhardt Scholarship Fund in honor of Paul’s parents, ensuring future generations of voyagers can experience the transformative power of our program.
While Paul lived a remarkably modest lifestyle—often seen in flip-flops or quietly smiling behind a camera —his devotion to Semester at Sea was boundless. Reflecting on Paul’s quiet generosity, John Tymitz, CEO emeritus of Semester at Sea, shared, “I knew Paul wanted to do something for Semester at Sea in his estate, but I had no idea it would be in the millions. It’s just absolutely wonderful. He was a rare human being.”
Honoring Paul’s Legacy
This monumental gift expands upon the $141,000 already contributed by alumni and friends to honor his legacy, which will also be celebrated through an upcoming shipboard display featuring Paul’s published books and photography.
Paul passed away on June 17, 2025 (a recording of the January 2026 memorial service is available here). His photography appeared in books and national and international publications like Sports Illustrated.
Read the full story on this gift and Paul’s impact, “A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma”: Paul Liebhardt Gives Transformative Gift to Semester at Sea
Paul’s Photo Gallery
Scroll through a collection of some of Paul’s photography: spanning from portraiture and candid moments to still-life photos of the ship.
