HorizonsVolume 28, No. 1 Spring 2006

Engineering, Computing Grow with Innovation Connection

A Letter from President Mark A. Murray

Not even 50 years old, Grand Valley has become a great university. As The Grand Rapids Press said recently:

“The university is larger, more selective and more racially diverse than (five years ago). GVSU no longer is a purely regional school: a quarter of its 22,565 students come from the east side of the state. Three nation-al football championships since 2002 have helped raise its profile … While there are about 2,000 more students now than in 2001, it is tougher to get a seat on campus. Grade-point aver-ages and college-test scores for incoming fresh-men are higher than in 2000.”

This kind of success comes about when West Michigan’s values of hard work and frugality join our quest for continual improvement. Whether it’s install-ing energy conservation appliances for sustainability, greater use of Internet and information technology to handle student administration or sound management of the university’s budget, the efficiency we pursue may not be headline material, but our attention is there. One of our proudest achievements has been the 10 consecutive years that we’ve received national recogni-tion as one of the top 100 “Best College Buys” – the only public university in Michigan with that record.

It is so important that we serve our stu-dents as efficiently as possible. It allows us to focus resources on the greater issues.The global competitive challenges continue to mount. We are doing our part by ensur-ing a global perspective for our students. We offer major languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian. Our Van Andel Global Trade Center has helped more than 6,000 individuals and 125 orga-nizations, providing learners with skills to compete in the global marketplace.

We offer dozens of opportunities for study abroad through the Padnos International Center and have increased intercultural offerings and speakers on cam-pus. A recent campus calendar lists speak-

Horizons

Horizons is a publication of the Grand Valley State University Development Office and is produced by the GVSU News and Information Services Office.

Horizons reports new develop-ments and directions at Grand Valley and is mailed to members of the Grand Valley University Foundation and other friends and supporters. Visit Grand Valley’s Web site at: www.gvsu.edu/

For more information, please contact University Development, 301 Michigan St. NE, Ste. 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3314. (616) 331-6000; e-mail address: gvufound@gvsu.edu. Visit Grand Valley’s Development Web site at www.gvsu.edu/development.

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A ‘Great’ Grand Valley Helps Regioners on South Africa, Latin America and Africa. Furthermore, we have incorporated an international perspective as part of our general education requirements. Opening these windows on the world will also open doors for today’s graduates.

A great Grand Valley helps West Michigan stay competitive in another way. Recent initiatives such as our annual Fall Arts Celebration have brought new levels of cultural enrichment to Grand Valley, whether it’s members of the New York City Ballet, Pulitzer-prize winning poets, Van Cliburn international piano virtuosos or women artists from the Caribbean. These visitors come as guests of vigorous cam-pus programs in the arts and humanities. A strong Grand Valley that provides such programs will help deepen the region’s cul-tural assets and help secure the knowledge workers who will power West Michigan’s new economy.

Delivering value. Facing the global chal-lenge. Deepening cultural resources so our region will thrive. These are our watch-words for the time ahead, and these are the goals that will continue to motivate us and our many friends and supporters who have made our progress possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with you in stewardship of this great university. It has become an outstanding university. Its 60,000 alumni can take pride in this excellence as they make their mark in the workplace, at home and in their houses of worship, enriching the fabric of their communities and increasing prosperity for all.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to contribute, with so many others, to that excellence over the past five years. Our donors, friends and alumni have given “time, talent and treasure” to help us get to this point. It will be exciting to see how much better it is in another five years. My best wishes to everyone Elizabeth and I have met on this journey.

Sincerely,

Mark Murray will leave the university this summer to become the president of Meijer Inc.

Sorry We Missed You!The following names were omitted from the 2005 GVU Foundation Annual Report:

Earl and Donnalee Holton

All our supporters are impor-tant to us, and we regret this omission.

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Foundation Supporters To Celebrate GivingLeadership Award

Randall S. Damstra will receive the Leadership Award, which honors emerging lead-ers whose commitment to public service, economic development, educational and cultural enrichment has con-tributed to the quality of life in West Michigan.

Damstra has achieved suc-cess in many business, com-munity and university roles. Since 2001, he has served as chief investment officer for RDV Corporation, leading the firm’s private fund and co-investment activities. He is an active com-munity mem-ber, serving as chairman-elect of the board for Goodwill Industries of Grand Rapids and as a trustee of Ada Township. Damstra has been a long-time supporter of Grand Valley’s inter-collegiate athletics program and was a generous benefactor of the Alumni House. He also served on the campaign committee for the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.

Arend D. Lubbers AwardJoyce F. Hecht will receive the Arend

D. Lubbers Award, established to honor longtime Grand Valley faculty and staff for service to the community and uni-versity.

For 25 years as the director of devel-opment and the founding executive director of the Grand Valley University Foundation, Hecht was directly respon-

The 2006 Enrichment Dinner is an opportunity to recognize those whose gifts are creating opportunities and changing the lives of Grand Valley stu-dents. Also this year, three community leaders will be honored for their philan-thropy and service.

Richard M. DeVos will again chair the event, with Foundation Vice Chairs Jim Brooks and Donna Brooks co-hosting the program. An event of the Grand Valley University Foundation, the Enrichment Dinner is scheduled for June 7, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. The following people will be recog-nized:

Enrichment AwardJohn C. Kennedy is an entrepreneur

whose success in business is coupled with dedication to community service and philan-thropy. At 30, Kennedy lever-aged every-thing he had to buy Autocam, at that time a single shop with one cus-tomer and sales of $8 mil-lion. By 2005, Kennedy grew the company to 13 locations around the world and $350 million in sales, while adhering to a vision that reflects social and environ-mental values.

Kennedy has served as a trustee for Grand Valley, Michigan Department of Transportation, Van Andel Institute and various corporate and nonprofit boards. In addition to his personal phi-lanthropy, he has chaired or co-chaired numerous capital campaigns, benefiting organizations such as United Way, Lacks Cancer Center, Catholic Secondary Schools, Meijer Public Broadcast Center and Padnos School of Engineering.

sible for raising private funds that made possible significant milestones at the university. With President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers and friends of Grand Valley, she helped raise more than $50 million for projects and build-ings including the Eberhard Center, Meijer Public Broadcast Center, DeVos Center, Annis Water Resources Institute, and many others. During her tenure, the university’s endowment grew from less that $1 million to its then-record peak of $40 million in 2000.

Hecht has also served on boards for the Grand Rapids Symphony and Grand Forum and played an active role with Grand Rapids Rotary and other organi-zations.

John C. Kennedy

Randall S. Damstra

Joyce F. Hecht

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‘Innovation Connection’ Campaign Meets Needsprogram and senior design projects that provide real-world opportunities with local companies.

With a tug and a crash, a section of wall came tumbling down outside the Eberhard Center, making way for a new Grand Valley building designed to help transform Michigan’s economy.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Michigan legislators and major GVSU engineer-ing benefactors helped pull the rope that felled the wall on October 14 in a ceremony to mark the beginning of work on the new $16 million John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering. The cere-mony also acknowledged the launch of the Innovation Connection campaign to fund the private portion of the project.

The facility will be sited between — and offer connections to — the Eberhard Center and Keller Engineering Laboratories. The three-story, 51,800-square-foot building will house class-rooms, offices and labs with a focus on electrical and computer engineering.

The state committed $12 million to help expand Grand Valley’s engineering program, provided that the university can raise $4 million from private sourc-es to complement state funds. Another $1 million will be raised for scholar-ships, equipment and programs, bring-ing the total goal to $5 million.

To meet that goal, John Kennedy and Seymour Padnos agreed to co-chair the Innovation Connection Campaign. Kennedy is president and CEO of Autocam Corporation and a former Grand Valley trustee. Seymour K. Padnos is the chairman of the board of Louis Padnos Iron and Metal Company and, with his wife Esther, is the namesake of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.

Kennedy and Padnos have enlisted a committee of more than 50 industry and community leaders who are reaching out to the manufactur-ing community, major foundations, and Grand Valley engineering and computing alumni.

A leadership gift from the Kennedy family gave the campaign a rapid start and has inspired other major gifts (see page 5 and box on this page). The building is named in honor of Kennedy’s leadership for engineering education. To date, $1.2 million remains to be raised for the campaign.

“This building is our key to advanc-ing our program,” said Paul Plotkowski, dean of Padnos College. “We’ve proven that we can work well with industry and bring that experience into the classroom. We’ve proven that we can prepare well-trained engineers and computer scientists who succeed and lead in their companies. When we are successful in raising the funds for this expansion, we’ll be able to play our part in retooling Michigan as we all seek a new state economy.”

With changes in industry prompt-ing changes in engineering curricu-lum, particularly in advanced product design and computer-assisted automa-tion, the building will be equipped with the latest technology. The facility will also house all master’s-level com-puter science programs.

Grand Valley engineering students have a nearly 100 percent placement rate every year. Between 96-100 per-cent of Grand Valley students pass the Fundamentals of Engineering licens-ing exam each year, while the national rate hovers around 70 percent. Students get professional experi-ence along with their studies through a cooperative education

Campaign Co-chairs

John C. Kennedy III

Seymour K. Padnos

Honorary Committee

M. Dana Baldwin II

James and Shirley Balk

Jim and Donna Brooks

Ed Clark

Doug DeVos

Jim Hackett

Doyle Hayes

David and Joyce Hecht

J.C. Huizenga

José A. Infante

Win and Kyle Irwin

Bernedine J. Keller

Fred P. Keller

Campaign Committee

John F. Alber

Nancy Ayres

John Buchan

Brian Cloyd

Brett J. Cutler, M.S.

John Dean

Mark Dejonge

Garth Deur

Paul Dickensheets

Jay Dunwell

Raymond F. Fix

John W. Hluchan

Nelson C. Jacobson

Jeffrey A. Jones

P. Douglas Kindschi

John Knape

John G. Kraus, P.E.

Karen Loth

Ronald A. Modreski

Patrick J. O’Hare

Tim Pietryga

Paul Plotkowski

Diane Purgiel

Steve Quinlan

Andrew Samrick

Valerie Pierre Simmons

James M. Teets

Richard VanderZyden

Gary Verplank

Maribeth Wardrop

Gary Watson

Jim Zawacki

Innovation Connection Campaign Committee

Corporate and Foundation Donors Join in

Recognizing the need for engi-neers, several corporations and foun-dations made early major commit-ments to the campaign, including:

• The Steelcase Foundation

• Alticor

• ADAC Automotive

• Brooks Family — Holland

• Smiths Aerospace Electronic Systems

• Consumers Energy Foundation

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Lead Donors Invest in Future of Engineeringto make yet another major commitment to the college that bears their name. As co-chair of the Innovation Connection Campaign with John Kennedy, Seymour saw the opportunity to set an example and join John and Nancy Kennedy in launching the drive to expand Grand Valley’s capabilities in providing engi-neers.

Speaking from his long career in the recycling busi-ness as chair-man of the board at Louis Padnos Iron and Metal, Padnos noted the importance of investing in engineering. “There is no better time to get involved in the engi-

neering process than the present,” he said. “It is urgent, and Grand Valley has the capability to train the people who will drive this ongoing process of improving our lifestyle.”

Charles W. Loosemore Foundation

Founded by the late Charles W. Loosemore, who ran the former Grand Rapids Boilerworks, the Charles W. Loosemore Foundation has played a role in many milestones for Grand Valley. It has made major gifts to the Eberhard Center, DeVos Center, and Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences — and now Grand Valley’s latest engineering facility.

Under president David Hecht, the foundation follows its founder’s focus on “leaving Grand Rapids better than he found it.” Hecht, an attorney and engineer, sees the value of this mission. “West Michigan has strength in manu-facturing, but is being challenged by competition from low wage countries

John and Nancy KennedyAs president of Autocam, an inter-

national manufacturer in Kentwood, Kennedy knows first-hand that manu-facturers are being forced to evolve.

“Once we focused on auto parts, now we are also making high-tech products such as medical devices,” he said. “In his book, ‘As the Future Catches You,’ Juan Enriquez makes the case that how we invest today will determine how our economy develops in the future. If we invest in edu-cation around careers in math and sciences better than our global competition, then we will excel in those areas in the future.”

Kennedy said this gift differed from his family’s previous gifts to GVSU.

“This gift is unusual for my fam-ily because historically, we have tried to give anonymously, or at least, very quietly,” he said. “But, we look at this campaign differently. First, it is very important that our community invests in math- and science-based careers. Secondly, although I am still well under 50, I include myself in the next generation of leadership and we need to step up.”

Seymour and Esther Padnos“There’s no question that the way

of the future is in computer-driven manufacturing, and engineering plays a major role in devising all those systems and procedures,” said Seymour Padnos. “Technology will not stand still for us, nor is it standing still for the rest of the world. India is way ahead of us. China is way ahead of us. We have to teach our young people to know technology, and it will carry us to the future.”

It is these sentiments that compelled Seymour, along with his wife, Esther,

so we need to be quick on our feet. Grand Valley’s program has been very hands-on, in its curriculum and in how it works with businesses to bring real-world problems into the classroom and the labs,” he said.

The Loosemore Foundation has also supported many other GVSU projects, such as STEPS, which enables middle-school girls to gain exposure to math and science at a summer camp.

J.C. HuizengaWith interests in companies that

employ both teachers and engineers, J.C. Huizenga pays attention to how GVSU educates its engineering students.

Huizenga is chairman of National Heritage Academies, a charter school education provider that has been ranked as one of the top 500 fastest growing compa-nies in the nation by Inc. magazine four years in a row. As the owner and chairman of several manufac-turing companies, he also cares about how his future engineers are being educated.

“Engineering is integral to the future of our economy. In grades K-12 we need to make sure students have a solid grasp of math and science so they can access high-paying engineering careers. At the university level, we need to develop highly skilled engineers who can help retool our economy,” Huizenga said.

From left to right are Esther and Seymour Padnos, President Mark A. Murray, John and Nancy Kennedy.

The proposed Kennedy Hall of Engineering. To make a gift or to learn more, contact Campaign Director Karen Loth at (616) ��1-6000.

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Engineering Guests See Future Buildingforce.” He said in response to industry trends, the college must, in particular, expand its electri-cal and computer engineering pro-grams.

Engineering and computer science alumni and their guests braved a February blizzard and attended a reception that included a sneak peek inside the new John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering. One of the keys to a successful campaign, according to campaign chairs, is to reach out to the more than 2,500 Grand Valley engineer-ing and computing alumni.

Paul Plotkowski, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, said the college’s response to local manufac-turing needs has been its “driving

Scholarships Pave Way for New Engineersentrepreneurs. Spruit hired John C. Kennedy as chief financial offi-cer of Autodie in 1982. Within six years, Kennedy bought Autocam, a spinoff from Autodie. (See page 3.)

To honor his men-tor, Kennedy created the Joseph Spruit Engineering Scholarship. “Joe was the greatest entrepreneur I know,” Kennedy said. “He had a vision and a risk-taking spirit that was incredible. I don’t think

The Fred M. and Bernedine Keller Engineering Diversity Scholarship

The former chairman of Paragon Die and Engineering Company, Fred M. Keller, once said, “I think you owe it to the community to do something for what it did for you. That’s the biggest part of life … helping somebody else out.”

Bernedine Keller created the Keller Engineering Diversity Scholarship in Fred’s memory, to provide financial support to minority students who show a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of engineering.

Grand Valley’s Engineering Laboratories Building is named in his honor and reflects his lifelong support of skills education. With Bernedine, Fred formed the Keller Foundation to formalize their tradition of assisting the community. Their generosity has aided dozens of organizations.

Joseph Spruit Engineering Scholarship

Joseph Spruit, founder of Autodie Corporation, was a lifelong entre-preneur who inspired many fellow

I would have stepped out and taken the risk I did, if I didn’t have him as a model.”

(Clockwise from top left) Pictured are Fred M. and Bernedine Keller, Joseph Spruit, Spruit and the Autodie Board in 1986 (with John Kennedy at far left), and Bernedine Keller (center) at a scholarship signing with family, Grand Valley students and staff members.

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Private Scholarships Perpetuate Donors’ ValuesThe Eugene and Lillian Pawl Scholarship

Established by Dr. Lawrence E. Pawl, this scholarship honors his parents, the late Eugene and Lillian Pawl, who did not graduate from college, but made sure that their son did. This scholar-ship benefits Grand Valley nursing and pre-medical students who are the first in their families to attend col-lege.

“My par-ents showed me the right way to do things, they instilled important values in me,” said Pawl. “They always assumed I would go to college. They were very supportive.”

His father worked on an assembly line at General Motors; his mother raised Larry and his sister, Teresa Pawl-Knapp, who graduated from Grand Valley in 1976.

Pawl wants others to think about scholarships, too. “Our alumni are maturing to the point where they are successful enough to start thinking about doing a scholarship. A scholar-ship is the way to go, it’s my kind of thing, one person helping another,” he said.

Pawl, who specializes in oncology, was the first in his immediate family to earn a college degree. He gradu-

Scholarships have long been a staple of universities, where students often need help from others to pursue an education. These funds, like the 21 new scholarships established by private donors to GVSU this year, do more than assist students, however.

As three recent Grand Valley schol-arships demonstrate, they perpetuate values that donors hold dear. They also honor people who represent great meaning to those influenced by them.

The Barry Castro Business Ethics Scholarship

The Castro Scholarship in Business Ethics honors Barry Castro, who at the time of his death in 2005 was professor of manage-ment at Grand Valley.

Castro’s career at Grand Valley spanned three decades. During that time, he founded the Business Ethics Center and spoke and published widely on what a business education should and could mean. In all his endeavors and accomplish-ments, Castro was a philosopher in the tradition of Plato and Socrates. He had a unique gift for bringing seemingly disparate ideas and people together in conversation. He was respected and loved not only by students but by West Michigan professionals.

“Engaging in serious discussions with serious people around serious texts is a way, and one of the important ways, to aspire to wisdom,” said Jeff Koeze, CEO of Koeze Company. “Barry would have said it’s the beginning of ethical behavior.”

ated from Grand Valley in 1971 and has served as a GVU Foundation trustee and as Alumni Association president. In 1991, he received the Distinguished Alumnus award. His wife, Brenda, received both bachelor’s and master’s nursing degrees from Grand Valley.

The William and Lois Hundley Scholarship

This scholarship honors William Maynard and Lois Jean Hundley; it was established in 2005 by their son, Jeff, a commercial real estate developer.

Jeff, the middle of three chil-dren of Lois and Maynard Hundley, grew up in Grand Rapids where his father was involved in the grocery business. Mr. Hundley was born and raised in Kentucky and Mrs. Hundley is a western Michigan native. Her occupation was managing the Hundley household. In 2005 the Hundleys celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Jeff speaks lovingly of his parents. “My older sister, Terri, my younger brother, William, and I have been for-tunate to have two of the best parents anyone could ever ask for,” he said. “This scholarship is a small way to honor them and to show my appreciation for all that they did for the three of us.”

As another semester closes and summer begins, the Allendale Campus remains a pleasant place to learn.

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Annual Meeting Brings Trustees to Allendaleof the university’s 22,500 students have one or more classes in Allendale. She added that Grand Valley’s diversity has grown; 14 percent of students are stu-dents of color and 61 percent of students are female.

For the first time, the trust-ees of the Grand Valley University Foundation held their annual meeting on the Allendale Campus. In October, Foundation Vice Chairs Jim Brooks and Donna Brooks joined President Mark A. Murray to convene the meeting and to introduce the “heart of Grand Valley” to the trustees. Many had not seen the on-campus growth of recent years, and were surprised to find a thriving — and full-time — campus community.

Trustees toured the central campus by bus prior to assembling in the Alumni House. Tour sites included everything from living centers to the Padnos Hall of Science.

Jodi Chycinski, director of admis-sions, summarized facts about the Allendale Campus and the 200 areas of study offered by GVSU. She noted that Grand Valley’s overall economic impact has reached $588 million, and that more than 18,000

Michele Van Dyke, president of Fifth Third Bank in Grand Rapids, was appointed as a new trustee.

Trustees Recognized for Supportnamed endowed scholarships that assist students as they pursue their Grand Valley education.

Musical talent from Grand Valley was also on display, with a performance by

With holiday wishes from General Chairman Richard M. DeVos, the trust-ees were thanked for their leadership and generosity in helping the university grow during 2005.

During a reception, President Mark A. Murray acknowledged their work. In addition to assisting uni-versity capi-tal and program needs, to date, 18 trust-ees have estab-lished or helped establish

After School Special and other univer-sity student musicians.

President Mark A. Murray presents Richard M. DeVos with a GVSU national championship football hat.

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Frey Foundation Challenge Grant Creates Chairraise the remaining $1.5 million.

A distinguished schol-ar-practitioner will be selected as the new Frey Foundation chair. That person will take the lead on this innovative pro-gram, which will research family foundation forma-tion and grantmaking practices, and teach effec-tive operating techniques to family foundation trust-ees.

“We believe the Johnson Center holds the promise to be the premiere university center of its kind in the nation,” said David Frey, chairman of the board of trustees of the Frey Foundation. “Exploring and understand-ing the role of private family foundations is critical to the Johnson Center’s mis-sion. This challenge grant from the Frey Foundation should do much to acknowledge and promote the increas-ing importance of family foundations in the realm of philanthropy. It is our hope that thoughtful and effective phi-lanthropy will benefit from the skills and focus the new Frey chair can pro-vide.”

Relatively few universities have pro-grams for the study of philanthropy and nonprofit leadership recognized by the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council. The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is one of the oldest of these centers, having been founded in 1992, with major support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It is considered one of the top institutions in the nation for helping nonprofit organizations and foundations work more effectively through the use

The tremendous power of some 32,000 charitable family foundations and their billions of grant dollars will begin to be harnessed more effectively thanks to the establishment of the nation’s first endowed chair focusing on family philanthropy.

The Frey Foundation is pledging $1.5 million to Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership to establish this chair that will lead to a pioneering program of study on family foundations and how they are led and managed to help society.

“Few institutions in American life are so vitally important, and so poorly understood, as family foundations,” said Joel J. Orosz, interim executive direc-tor of the Johnson Center. “The Frey Foundation’s bold gift will allow the Johnson Center to identify their keys to success, and most importantly, to find ways to enhance their beneficial impact upon society.”

The Frey Foundation has made its pledge as a challenge to help the uni-versity raise $5 million in endowment for the Johnson Center. The university’s campaign for the center has raised $3.5 million toward this goal. To meet this challenge, the university will need to

of best management practices and bet-ter access to research data.

This is the second fully endowed chair for Grand Valley State University announced this year. “These chairs sig-nal Grand Valley’s growing academic maturity and commitment to academic

rigor and innovation,” said Mark A. Murray, president of Grand Valley. “We applaud the Frey Foundation and the Frey family for their vision, leadership and generosity.”

A nationwide search for the person to fill the Frey Foundation chair will commence as soon as possible.

The Frey Foundation, based in Grand Rapids, is one of Michigan’s largest family foundations. Grants are provided primarily to nonprofit organi-zations in western Michigan for projects to enhance children’s development, protect natural resources, promote the arts and expand philanthropic and civic action. The Frey Foundation was estab-lished in 1972 and was permanently endowed in 1988 from the estate of the late Edward J. and Frances T. Frey.

Edward J. Frey Francis T. Frey

Family Foundations• More than 32,000 family foun-

dations provide critical assistance to America’s 1.2 million nonprofit organizations.

• In 2003, the top 50 family foundations in Michigan awarded more than $885 million in grants.

This represents 74 percent of the $1.2 billion given by all types of Michigan foundations in 2003.

Chair will lead pioneering study on family foundations

“The Frey Foundation’s bold gift will allow the Johnson Center … to find ways to enhance the beneficial impact of family foundations upon society.”

— Joel J. Orosz, Johnson Center interim executive director

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Gillett Society Inducts New Members

Doug and Barbara Kindschi have been involved in Grand Valley for many years. Doug served as dean of the Division of Science and Mathematics for 28 years. Now interim president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center for Health Professions, he actively pro-motes the dialogue between science and religion. Barbara has played the carillon for 11 years, and has performed on the university’s two carillons as many as three times a week.

Richard I. Williams is a 1998 alum-nus of Grand Valley. He received his bachelor’s in biomedical sci-

Members of the Gillett Society held their annual dinner this past September to honor and induct new members. It was an occasion to see old friends and to reflect on how Gillett Society members are shaping the future of the university.

“Five years ago we celebrated the inauguration of the Gillett Society,” said President Murray. “Your commit-ments since then give us hope and inspiration as we prepare a new gen-eration for prosperous, fulfilling lives in our community.”

The Gillett Society is comprised of people who have made a lifetime com-mitment to GVSU through planned gifts such as bequests, trusts and annuities.

Members inducted in September are as follows:

Bud and Arlene Baxter met when they were students at The University of Michigan. Before retiring, Bud was the owner of Baxter Metals, which in 1985 merged with SA Morman Company. Their sons now own SA Morman, so the family business — established in 1857 — continues.

Mary Helen “Thommy” Price rep-resents one of the two leading families of Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt and Litton. Thommy’s late husband, Peter Price, co-founded Price Heneveld with the late Lloyd Heneveld. Her bequest will strengthen the Price Heneveld Engineering Scholarship, support-ing students in the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.

Jean Enright served as the execu-tive assistant to two Grand Valley presidents. In that role, she acted as a bridge between the president, students, parents, faculty and community leaders for more than 17 years before retiring in 2004. Her leader-ship and facilitation provided a legacy of successful aca-demic and commu-nity events.

ence and a Grand Valley master’s of business administration. He then earned his law degree at MSU’s Detroit College of Law and is finishing a master’s of public administration from Grand Valley.

Peter and Galene DeWitt are both Grand Valley graduates and have been actively involved in the university for many years. Peter is the co-owner of DeWitt Barrel. He has served on the GVU Foundation Board and the Alumni Association Board. Galene was the Alumni Association president in 1967-68.

(See additional photos from the din-ner on page 11.)

President Mark A. Murray and President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers presented new Gillett Society members with plaques, recognizing their commitment to GVSU. Above, clockwise from top left, are members Doug and Barbara Kindschi, Jean Enright, Peter and Galene DeWitt and Mary Helen ‘Thommy’ Price. Also receiving their membership plaques were Bud and Arlene Baxter and Richard I. Williams (pictured on page 11).

Page 11

African American alumni members shared experiences and career advice with students of color at the latest in a series of Alumni Association-sponsored roundtable discussions.

More than 35 alumni and 90 stu-dents attended the October 6 event at the Alumni House and Visitor Center.

“This was a great opportunity for alumni to give back to the uni-versity,” said Tony Miller, ’98 and ’02, Kent County Health Department senior financial analyst and an event organizer. “Education goes beyond the classroom, and this was an opportunity for us to have a personal effect on the students. We want to help

To learn more about Gillett Society or other legacy planning options, con-tact John Heerspink, director of Gift Planning for University Development, at (616) 331-6529 or john@gillettsociety.org. Visit the Gillett Society Web site at www.gillettsociety.org.

African American Alumni Offer Career Advicethem take advantage of opportunities and inspire solutions to problems they’ll face both in and after college.”

Damon Arnold, director of Athletic Advising, served as moderator of the panel discussion. Panelists included Deborah Clanton, ’76, district court

magistrate and director of proba-tion services; David Harris, ’85, physical therapist; Dionne Hardiman, ’98, for-mer middle school teacher; Daniel

Oglesby, ’74, senior vice president at Spectrum Health; and Isaiah “Ike” Lipsey, ’92, attorney.

Harris said it was a thrill to interact with students. “I was most impressed by how the students appeared to be thor-oughly intuitive, interested and optimis-tic,” he said. “They had great questions and seemed extremely well-motivated to succeed.”

Results from a survey given to par-ticipants showed that the event was a success. Plans are underway to spon-sor a similar roundtable with Hispanic alumni.

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Donors to Grand Valley Fund Enhance EducationAs the Grand Valley Fund nears the

end of its fourth year, it is attracting more donors and increasing its impact on education at Grand Valley.

From July to April, more than 4,500 donors have given or pledged to the Grand Valley Fund, a 32 percent increase from last year at this time. Commitments to this unrestricted fund have grown to a record $363,090, up more than 20 percent from April last year.

Grand Valley donors support the Grand Valley Fund as well as other designated funds for scholarships, equipment and unique educational opportunities. Because of the generos-ity of donors to the Grand Valley Fund, the university was able to fund several major areas of educational enhance-ment.

“This is what the Grand Valley Fund is all about,” said Jill Dooley, ’90 and ’99, director of Annual Giving. “These are programs that Grand Valley was not able to fund in any other way. Now thanks to the investment of many alumni, friends, faculty and staff, our students will have better opportunities for learning.” Examples include:

• Despite the financial aid oppor-tunities GVSU provides, many promis-ing students still face significant gaps

between what they can pro-vide and what higher edu-cation costs. To overcome this, the Grand Valley Fund has provided “gap” funding for the past two years to make the difference for 40 students annually to attend the university.

• With textbooks costing $500 or more a semester, the expense of books can be a barrier to staying in college, particularly for low-income students. Thanks to the Grand Valley Fund, the university is meeting the needs of 50 low-income students this year.

• New scholarships are being award-ed to international students who dem-onstrate high academic achievement. These awards allow the university to strengthen its diversity by attracting these gifted students to Grand Valley.

• Through the Summer Student Scholars Program, undergraduate stu-dents work with faculty mentors to research many projects in disciplines from engineering to the humanities.

• Kirkhof College of Nursing stu-dents hone their emergency care skills using a computerized figure that simu-

lates infant vital signs. Training with “SimBaby” allows nursing students to enter the workplace with a competitive edge.

• Grand Valley’s libraries are launch-ing two new technologies to speed delivery of materials to students and faculty. By reducing slower paper-based delivery processes, the systems will improve access to library resources.

This year’s annual campaign runs through June 30. For questions, please contact Jill Dooley at 616-331-6527. Online gifts may be made at www.gvsu.edu/giving.

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Students in Grand Valley’s Telephone Outreach Program encourage supporters to give back.