Final answer:
To determine Benson's initial contribution to the trust fund, we calculate the principal that yields $125,000 annually at a 6.15% interest rate. The calculation results in a principal of approximately $2,032,520.33, which matches option B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question requires us to calculate the principal amount that must be invested to generate an annual scholarship of $125,000 with an interest rate of 6.15%. This involves using the formula for the annual payout of an investment, which is the payout = principal * interest rate. By rearranging the formula, we find the principal = payout / interest rate.
Therefore, the principal needed is $125,000 / 0.0615. This gives us a principal amount of approximately $2,032,520.33, which would generate $125,000 in income each year to fund the scholarships. This corresponds to option B.