horizons spring 2009

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H orizons Volume 31, No. 1 Spring 2009 Scholarships Expand Access for All Education is one of the greatest gifts to give and one of the greatest gifts to receive. Celebrating the intersection of both sides of philanthropy, donors and scholarship recipients gathered for the 10th annual Scholarship Dinner on March 31 at the Amway Grand Plaza. More than 650 people attended the event, which honored the univer- sity friends, alumni, faculty and staff members, parents and organizations involved in private scholarships at Grand Valley State University. Grand Valley students benefit from 230 pri- vately endowed and annually funded scholarships. The dinner also gave the recipients a chance to meet scholarship supporters and express thanks for their generosity. Scholarships supported more than 1,000 students this year. And despite difficult economic conditions, gifts to scholarships at Grand Valley are on the rise, with an increase of $500,000 over last year at this time. Providing financial aid is an impor- tant part of Grand Valley’s commitment to students. Eighty percent of the uni- versity’s 24,000 students receive some kind of assistance, and need-based financial aid has grown 287 percent in recent years. Because a highly edu- cated workforce benefits the entire community, the impact of that support goes well beyond the students who receive it. President Thomas J. Haas said he believes access to higher edu- cation is society’s best lever for a bet- ter future. “Its return on investment far sur- passes what students can earn with just a high school education,” he said. “Our future knowledge economy will depend on intelligent human capital, and as a university, we can’t provide that without help.” During the Scholarship Dinner, a video presentation celebrated one of the university’s long-term scholarships that has changed the lives of many. Established in 1990, the Hyman H. & Greta M. Berkowitz Scholarship Fund is nearly 20 years old. Although both Hy and Greta have died, their legacy continues to touch students and their families. In the past 10 years, more than 140 students have benefited from their generosity. A life of hard work and a dedica- tion to others led Hy and Greta to fund a scholarship at Grand Valley for students with disabilities. The couple founded Rogers Department store in 1955 in what then was a rural area on 28th Street in Wyoming. Rogers became one of the biggest and most Above: President Thomas J. Haas joins Berkowitz scholars, family and friends. In the back row are members of the Berkowitz family: Lanny Thodey (third from left) and Dan Hurwitz (second from right). In front, Shirley Hurwitz is second from right. At left: Donna Brooks (center) stands with a recipient of the Brooks Family Minority Scholarship and a friend. Brooks was a Board of Trustees member for 16 years, beginning in 1993. continues on page 11

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The Spring 2009 edition of Horizons, the newsletter of the Grand Valley University Foundation.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Horizons Spring 2009

HorizonsVolume 31, No. 1 Spring 2009

Scholarships Expand Access for AllEducation is one of the greatest gifts

to give and one of the greatest gifts to receive. Celebrating the intersection of both sides of philanthropy, donors and scholarship recipients gathered for the 10th annual Scholarship Dinner on March 31 at the Amway Grand Plaza.

More than 650 people attended the event, which honored the univer-sity friends, alumni, faculty and staff members, parents and organizations involved in private scholarships at Grand Valley State University. Grand Valley students benefit from 230 pri-vately endowed and annually funded scholarships. The dinner also gave the recipients a chance to meet scholarship supporters and express thanks for their generosity.

Scholarships supported more than 1,000 students this year. And despite difficult economic conditions, gifts to scholarships at Grand Valley are on the rise, with an increase of $500,000 over last year at this time.

Providing financial aid is an impor-tant part of Grand Valley’s commitment to students. Eighty percent of the uni-versity’s 24,000 students receive some kind of assistance, and need-based financial aid has grown 287 percent in recent years. Because a highly edu-cated workforce benefits the entire community, the impact of that support goes well beyond the students who receive it. President Thomas J. Haas said he believes access to higher edu-cation is society’s best lever for a bet-ter future.

“Its return on investment far sur-passes what students can earn with just a high school education,” he said. “Our future knowledge economy will depend on intelligent human capital,

and as a university, we can’t provide that without help.”

During the Scholarship Dinner, a video presentation celebrated one of the university’s long-term scholarships that has changed the lives of many. Established in 1990, the Hyman H. & Greta M. Berkowitz Scholarship Fund is nearly 20 years old. Although both Hy and Greta have died, their legacy continues to touch students and their families. In the past 10 years, more

than 140 students have benefited from their generosity.

A life of hard work and a dedica-tion to others led Hy and Greta to fund a scholarship at Grand Valley for students with disabilities. The couple founded Rogers Department store in 1955 in what then was a rural area on 28th Street in Wyoming. Rogers became one of the biggest and most

Above: President Thomas J. Haas joins Berkowitz scholars, family and friends. In the back row are members of the Berkowitz family: Lanny Thodey (third from left) and Dan Hurwitz (second from right). In front, Shirley Hurwitz is second from right.

At left: Donna Brooks (center) stands with a recipient of the Brooks Family Minority Scholarship and a friend. Brooks was a Board of Trustees member for 16 years, beginning in 1993.

continues on page 11

Page 2: Horizons Spring 2009

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: [email protected].

Page 2

Good News Among the Waves

www.gvsu.edu/development

A Letter from President Thomas J. Haas

Times of challenge call for leadership and clear vision. We know that many people are suffering hardship and disrup-tion as Michigan faces economic turbulence. Our response needs to be compassionate and yet farsighted. Even though we feel buffeted by the waves of the storm, we can’t lose sight of good news.

Good news at Grand Valley comes from friends and local corporations who are choosing to invest in the university’s future, knowing that we are a key asset for economic growth and revitalization. Thanks to early supporters, Shaping Our Future, our comprehensive campaign for capital and endowment needs, has exceeded three quarters of its $50 mil-lion goal.

The central project within this campaign is the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, for which we have raised more than $19 million toward the $30 million goal for private support.

There is other good news at Grand Valley:

• A team of our MBA students took top honors in March at an Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) competition, vying against university teams from Michigan State, Western Michigan, Davenport and others. The ACG Cup gives graduate busi-ness and finance students real-world experi-ence as they networked with this region’s top merger and acquisition professionals.

• A small, inexpensive wind turbine developed at Grand Valley could revolution-ize home and commercial power generation and create West Michigan manufacturing jobs. The turbine was invented at GVSU’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center. With a retail cost of around $2,000, the device will be sold at home improve-ment stores and can generate up to 20 percent of the average home’s electricity. It is now being marketed by EarthTronics of Muskegon.

• Grand Valley is helping a West Michigan Fortune 500 company gain efficiencies as it expands operations in

Michigan. By securing a particular foreign trade zone designation with help from Grand Valley’s Van Andel Global Trade Center, Wolverine World Wide will be able to distribute finished products to U.S. and international customers while achieving sig-nificant efficiencies for its recently consoli-dated North American distribution opera-tions. In January, Wolverine announced that it was transitioning these operations from Canada into the company’s Michigan facilities.

As we celebrate news like this, we also focus on stewardship. In March, I testi-fied before the Michigan House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, sharing how we are supporting students through this period:

• We continue to reduce costs and keep our tuition below the state average while maintaining quality services.

• We will retain the current award value of our scholarships and grants. We will not cut Grand Valley’s promise of financial aid.

• We have increased need-based finan-cial aid by 287 percent in recent years. Financial aid of all kinds at Grand Valley now exceeds $171 million.

Grand Valley is an educational and economic engine with impact that reaches beyond West Michigan. Few people realize that we enroll more Michigan undergradu-ates than any other public university in the state. Investing in Grand Valley reaches more Michigan students, and 94 percent of recent graduates who are working are working in Michigan.

Whether you contact your legislators, or make decisions about your own giving to Grand Valley, please remember that the lessons I learned in the Coast Guard apply to Lakers too: never cut your engines with storms around!

Sincerely,

Page 3: Horizons Spring 2009

The Grand Valley University Foundation’s annual Enrichment Dinner will not only honor this year’s award recipients, but also celebrate the recipi-ents of the Leadership Award over the past two decades.

Scheduled for June 2 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, the event will honor the 20th anniversary of the Leadership Award, and all awardees since its incep-tion in 1989 will be recognized.

The 2009 Enrichment Dinner hon-orees are Thomas A. and Joyce S. Wisner, Kate Pew Wolters, and Ronald F. VanSteeland. They will be rec-ognized for their leadership, com-munity philan-thropy and civic engagement.

Tom and Joyce Wisner have continued a family legacy of philanthropy that started with Joyce’s father, Leslie E. Tassell. Tassell founded a successful automotive parts company, Lescoa, in Grand Rapids. The Tassells have been major supporters of Grand Valley’s engineering and health programs.

Tom Wisner is president of L.E.T. Inc., Land Acquisition and Development. He had held positions at Lescoa and now also manages the Caloosa Cove Marina and Resort in the Florida Keys. Joyce Tassell Wisner is treasurer of L.E.T. and president of the Tassell-Wisner-Bottrall Foundation, formerly known as the Leslie E. Tassell Foundation.

The Wisners have created their own connection with Grand Valley through scholarships. In 2007, they created an engineering scholarship that helps first-generation and non-traditional stu-

dents, and supports students in product design. When the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences opened, the Wisners created a scholarship for doctoral physi-cal therapy students.

Kate Pew Wolters was one of the first two recipients of the Leadership Award in 1989; and 20 years later, she remains a committed friend of the university. Wolters was appointed in 2004 to an eight-year term on the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees. She has been a GVU Foundation trustee since 1992.

Her most recent gift to Grand Valley honors the memory of her mother, Mary Idema Pew, and her family’s commitment to learning and literacy. Wolters joined her father in a landmark gift that sets the stage for the university’s new library, the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons.

Wolters is chair of the Steelcase Foundation and a member of the company’s board of directors. She is also president of the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation, which gives grants to nonprofits dedicated to the arts, edu-cation and human services.

She serves on the board for a number of organiza-tions, including the Progressive Women’s Alliance of West Michigan, Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, and as co-chair of the Kent County Children’s

Commission. Wolters is also a board member of the Mary and Robert Pew Public Education Fund, established by her parents to address public education in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Ronald F. VanSteeland will receive the Arend D. Lubbers Award, presented to faculty and staff members for service to the community and university.

VanSteeland started working at Grand Valley in 1966, as the first personnel officer. Thirty-five years later, he retired as vice president for Finance and Administration. As a trusted advisor to Lubbers, VanSteeland helped Grand Valley grow from a small college of 2,000 students to a regional univer-sity with more than 24,000 students. In his honor, the Board of Trustees named a living center as the Ronald F. VanSteeland Living Center.

The recognition of the Leadership Awardees will be an added high-light of the evening. “These men and women have set a powerful example for emerging leaders to follow,” said Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for Development.

Page 3

Enrichment Dinner Will Honor 20 Years of Leaders

1989 Kate Pew Wolters

Fred P. Keller

1991Donna K. BrooksJohn C. Kennedy

1993Kyle Smith Irwin

Hank Meijer

1995Doyle A. Hayes ’75Mary Lee Scanlon

1997Cathy BissellDan DeVos

1999Pamella G. DeVosJames P. Hackett

2003Meg Miller Willit

2004Mitchell G. Watt

2005Daniel J. Hurwitz

2006Randall S. Damstra ’82

2007Starr Meijer

2008Carol Van Andel

Leadership Award Recipients

Thomas A. Wisner

Joyce S. Wisner

Kate Pew Wolters

Ronald F. VanSteeland

Page 4: Horizons Spring 2009

Thanks to early generosity from many donors and great response to the case for Grand Valley, Shaping Our Future, the university’s first compre-hensive campaign, is moving quickly toward completion.

Three-quarters of the total $50 mil-lion goal has been raised. Of the $30 million goal for a new library, more than $19 million is committed.

The campaign will conclude in 2010-11, Grand Valley’s 50th anniversary year. Along the way, important community and academic relationships, particularly in the areas of health, engineering and business, have been solidified. Below are recent highlights from the campaign.

The Mary Idema Pew LibraryThe Mary Idema Pew Library is

named as a tribute to Mary Idema Pew and members of her family who have been major supporters of Shaping Our Future.

The campaign’s centerpiece goal is funding for the library. As a learning and information commons, it will use new technology and learning design to serve as an incu-bator for 21st century skills. The new facility is central in Grand Valley’s plans to prepare students to compete globally in the information age, as they help to power and transform the Michigan economy.

Mary, who died in December 2007, is the late wife of Robert C. Pew II, chairman emeritus of Steelcase Inc. She is the daughter of Walter and Mary Idema, regarded as one of the founding fami-lies of Steelcase Inc. Support for the library and campaign came from Robert Pew II, and Kate Pew Wolters, daughter of Robert and Mary.

“To me, this gift makes such a mean-ingful West Michigan connection,” said

Donna Brooks, Shaping Our Future co-chair and vice chair of the Grand Valley University Foundation. “Grand Valley grew out of our community, and so did the Pew and Idema families, who are even more deeply rooted.”

Over the years, both Robert and Kate have taken significant lead-ership roles on

the university and foundation boards. Kate is currently a trustee on the Grand Valley board, filling a role in which her father served in the 1980s. Their com-bined gift will enable Grand Valley to build the intellectual heart of a growing and thriving campus.

George and Barbara Gordon Gallery

George and Barbara Gordon’s gifts to Grand Valley have grown from a gen-erous sharing of works by renowned Michigan artist Mathias J. Alten to a leg-acy that will provide countless learning opportunities for generations to come.

A major construction project made possible by the Gordons added 723 square feet to the gallery at the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, doubling its size. The expansion provides a beauti-ful exhibition space devoted to Alten, including 10 paintings not previously on display.

George is a leader in the oil and gas industry and is a member of the Grand Valley Foundation’s Advisory Cabinet. He is gratified to see a true gallery develop that brings out the best of Alten’s craft and color. Barbara is pleased that so many of the couple’s favorite paintings will now be more directly accessible to the public and the university community.

Page 4

Shaping Our Future Makes Strides

Kate Pew Wolters (center) is pictured with President Thomas J. Haas, Dan and Pam DeVos, Donna and Jim Brooks. The DeVoses and Brookses are co-chairs of Shaping Our Future.

Barbara and George Gordon, at right, are pictured with Thomas and Marcia Haas after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pictured above are Mary Idema Pew and Robert C. Pew. Grand Valley’s new learning and information commons will be named the Mary Idema Pew Library.

Page 5: Horizons Spring 2009

The Frederik Meijer Honors College

A successful business leader and community philanthropist, Fred Meijer knows the importance of a college degree. He called it “an absolute imperative” in today’s environment. This belief in education led Fred and his wife Lena to make a gift to Grand Valley that supports the Honors College. In recognition of the Meijers’ support of the best and the brightest at Grand Valley, the university honored the family by naming the Frederik Meijer Honors College, which now has an enrollment of nearly 1,000 students.

“For attracting and keeping talent, this Honors College is the right pro-gram for the right university at the right

time,” said Dan DeVos, Shaping Our Future co-chair, at an October media announcement. “Fortunately, Fred Meijer recognized this poten-tial.”

Details about how the Meijer gift benefits the Honors College are listed below.

• Scholarships will be established for first-generation college students; • An endowed chair will be created for a faculty member to provide expertise in lead-ership and entrepreneurship; • A lecture series will be established; • Career development opportu-nities will be created for graduate students, helping them to apply for prestigious fellowships that once may have seemed impos-

sible to obtain.

The Meijers’ support will enable more stu-dents to pursue higher education, and that, in turn, will increase the talent pool available to West Michigan busi-nesses.

Campaign Next Steps

“It’s a time to be thankful that Grand Valley is in a great posi-tion to help the region,

due to so many who helped to build it during its first half-century,” said Jim Brooks, Shaping Our Future co-chair and vice chair of the Grand Valley University Foundation.

“We believe that investing in educa-tion is a critical lever to spur economic redevelopment. The fact that we are experiencing a recession is all the more reason that giving to education now is extremely important. Therefore, our plans are ‘full speed ahead’ for the cam-paign.”

Brooks noted that an alumni commit-tee and a community advisory commit-tee are being organized to support the broad-based portion of the campaign. More information about these groups will be announced at a later date.

To make a gift to the campaign, visit www.gvsu.edu/shapingourfuture, or call Karen Loth, assistant vice president for Development, at (616) 331-6539.

Page 5

Fred Meijer receives a certificate from campaign co-chair Dan DeVos at the announcement of the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Above at right are Fred and his wife Lena Meijer.

George Gordon discusses the works of Mathias Alten at the grand opening of the Gordon Gallery expansion.

Above, personalized mortarboards were presented to the Meijers.

GVU Foundation Trustees Donnalee and Earl Holton share their impressions with Barbara Gordon.

Page 6: Horizons Spring 2009

Page 6

Leadership Academy Grows with Cook’s GiftConceived to forge a mean-

ingful connection between Grand Valley students and com-munity leaders, the Peter Cook Leadership Academy has quickly become a dynamic enterprise and is exceeding expectations for success.

Housed within Grand Valley’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, the acad-emy was founded in 2004 on the belief that learning to lead is best done through direct exposure to people who are themselves accom-plished leaders.

“It’s a unique blend of academ-ics, experience, and philanthropy,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center. “In a scholarly set-ting, we have generous people who are willing to share not only their resources, but their knowledge and experience with our students.”

Thanks to a gift from Peter Cook,

the academy has gained a stron-ger financial base for its program. Each year, a group of talented and diverse students is selected for membership in the academy. Becoming a Leadership Fellow offers multiple opportunities, including a monthly lunch meeting with a national, state or local leader to discuss the challenges and opportunities of leadership.

Participation in the Hauenstein Center’s public programs broadens

the fellows’ exposure to leaders and scholars of national stature. The cen-ter’s partnerships — with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum and the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, among others — provide fellows opportunities to participate in some of the area’s most anticipated gatherings.

Recent Leadership Academy speaker Hank Meijer talks with Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for Development.

Ralph Hauenstein and Peter Cook

Ralph Hauenstein understands how important effective leadership is for society. “In the 20th century, I saw the worst that leaders are capable of,” he said of his experiences as the head of U.S. intelligence in the European the-ater during World War II.

“In the 21st century, I want to encourage the best leadership pos-sible, so that the world will be better for my children’s children,” Hauenstein said. Through the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, he hopes to inspire a new generation of leaders devoted to public service.

It is on this foundation that Peter Cook generously sponsored the estab-lishment of the Leadership Academy at the Hauenstein Center. Cook describes himself as a friend of Hauenstein who values the American presidency and wants to see the next generation gain from the best insights and traditions of that uniquely American institution.

“Ralph and Peter are great phi-lanthropists,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center. “We’re delighted with their commit-ment and enthusiasm. They have made it possible for the center to cre-ate a real connection with students and a genuine engagement with com-munity leaders.”

As part of Shaping Our Future, Grand Valley’s comprehensive campaign, friends of the Hauenstein

Center have raised $2.8 million towards the $3 million endowment goal.

The center has received endow-ment gifts from two private founda-tions and a local family.These gifts will permanently support five of the 25 Leadership Fellows. Campaign leaders hope similar endowments will follow.

Gleaves Whitney and Ralph Hauenstein From left are Hilary Snell, Thomas J. Haas and Jim Mitchell.

Hauenstein Center Inspires New Generations

Page 7: Horizons Spring 2009

Page 7

A Student Opportunity Like No Other

The Leadership Fellows clearly feel enriched by their involvement with the program. Dan Reed, a social studies and physical education major, said, “No other asso-ciation has provided me with more opportuni-ties to grow and learn than the Hauenstein Center’s Leadership Academy.”

The fel-lows have met four presidents, two vice presidents, three secre-taries of state, two governors, numerous Pulitzer Prize recipients and a Grammy winner, among others. It’s an impressive list, to be sure, but perhaps even more important are the small group gather-ings that fellows have with local and regional leaders, including numerous corporate, nonprofit and educational executives.

The chairman of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies Advisory Cabinet is Hilary Snell, a former man-aging partner at Varnum. He believes the detailed professional insight being shared during these meetings is invaluable for the leaders of tomor-row. “These students are being exposed to a plethora of approaches that have been applied to universal lead-ership prob-lems,” Snell said. “At every level of lead-ership, from local volunteer positions to corporate man-

agement — all the way up the ladder of leadership responsibility — fellows will be able to draw on what they learned in dealing with the wide variety of situ-ations they will face.”

Fellow Petra Alsoofy, a political sci-ence major with a minor in Middle Eastern studies, said: “The Leadership Academy provides me with a chance to see how leadership works in all fields. Professionalism is stressed, which is important for students who want prac-tice and preparation for the workforce or for further education.”

Mentors Sharing Values and Experience

The Leadership Academy supports 25 fellows. Each fellow has the opportunity to be guided by a mentor, who is a rec-ognized leader in West Michigan.

Jim Mitchell, an attorney and partner at Varnum, is a long-time friend of the Hauenstein Center and a supporter of the Leadership Academy. He said: “The academy provides a tremendous oppor-tunity for sharing between young people accepting the mantle of leadership and those who have been leaders in the past. Today, there’s an abundance of infor-mation available — but it takes wisdom and experience, and someone willing to share it, to examine that information criti-cally, and apply it meaningfully.”

Providing models for civic involvement is an important part of the process too, cabinet member Mary Seeger points

out. Seeger is a dean emeritus of Grand Valley. “It’s good to teach young people to become involved in the community early in life – the younger, the better,” she said.

Leadership Past, Present and Future

Snell is impressed with how the academy gives Grand Valley, and all those who benefit from it, a first-rate historical analysis of how leaders work. “It’s incredible to watch the teaching of history become a meaningful part of the debate surrounding current issues,” he said. “To one who loves the study of history, that is truly exciting.”

Today’s environment is formidable, and there is a dire need for talented leaders. The Peter Cook Leadership Academy is creating those leaders, and when community members step forward with their support, they make a very real investment in the future.

More information about the academy is available at www.allpresidents.org.

Leadership Fellows are pictured in a discussion session (above) and at a Hauenstein Center joint presentation with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Petra Alsoofy and Dan Reed

Leadership Fellow Nam Nguyen, right, talks with, at left, Jim Mitchell and Hilary Snell.

Page 8: Horizons Spring 2009

Courtesy of the Grand Valley Lanthorn

Grand Valley senior Ryan Fitzgibbon has reaped the benefits of his fellow students’ generosity as the first recipient of the Student Legacy Scholarship.

The $500 Student Legacy Scholarship, awarded on January 27, is the first scholarship entirely funded by GVSU students.

President Thomas J. Haas signed the scholarship last November. For the past year, University Development and the Student Senate have worked to build the scholar-ship fund.

To be eligible for the scholarship, undergraduate students must be entering their junior or senior year at Grand Valley. The student must be enrolled full time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and must be involved in the community.

Fitzgibbon is one of the presidents of the Professional Association of Design and is also the sole designer and cre-ative director of the “Do Something Guide,” produced by the Student Life Office. He was an intern for People Design and completed design work for Grand Valley’s Promotions Office and Art Gallery.

Shaun Shira, University Development annual giving manager, said the Student

Legacy Scholarship is a good represen-tation of the university’s ideals.

“The scholarship reinforces the ideals that Grand Valley has been built on — a culture of philanthropy in which giv-ing back is commonplace,” Shira said. “The scholarship also reinforces the

great sense of community that you find on all Grand Valley campuses. We are in this together. We help our own.”

Shira said one scholarship will be awarded each semester until there are more funds available. Since this scholar-ship is entirely funded by students, he urged students to donate money to the fund.

“This is a great opportunity to show

your Laker pride by making a gift to this scholarship,” Shira said. “Many students require financial assistance to complete their degree, and the Student Legacy Scholarship helps those students succeed and earn their degrees.”

Fitzgibbon graduated in April with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. He plans to move to San Francisco this summer to pursue a master’s degree at the California College of the Arts.

“I encourage all students to invest not only in this fund, but to invest in the betterment of their peers at Grand Valley,” Fitzgibbon said. “I will forever feel privileged to have had a hand in a few of the many contributing efforts that make our university exceptional.”

Dar Johnson, a graduate student in the School of Nonprofit and Public Administration and the Student Legacy intern for University Development, is working with Shira to help advance the Student Legacy Scholarship for the future.

“I believe GVSU students are already exceptional philanthropists for many community organizations,” said Johnson. “Currently, we are partnering with student organizations to develop a fundraiser or make a gift to promote students’ successful completion through college.”

For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/studentlegacy.

Page 8

Student Legacy Scholarship Names Recipient

Scholarship recipient Ryan Fitzgibbon, left, and Dar Johnson, Student Legacy intern for University Development, meet to discuss strategies to expand the Student Legacy Scholarship.

For the third straight year, annual giving at Grand Valley has topped the $1 million mark. With two months left before the end of the fiscal year, par-ents and families are one of the groups playing a starring role. They have sur-passed their goal by contributing more than $225,000 as of the end of April.

“This is compelled and compassion-ate giving,” says Jill Dooley, director of annual giving. “People feel fortunate for the excellence in programs and oppor-

tunities we have at Grand Valley, and they want to ensure that it continues.”

In economically challenging times, annual giving is especially important to Grand Valley. Many gifts, like schol-arships and support of athletics, are directed to specific causes. Also vitally important is the Grand Valley Fund, which receives and marshals unrestrict-ed gifts toward critical university needs. Last year’s fund supported priorities at Grand Valley such as academic advising,

student life and community leadership opportunities. At least half of the fund was used for direct support provided to students in the form of financial aid.

“With your assistance, we’ll stay on pace, reach our year-end goals and be able to enhance the educational experi-ence provided at Grand Valley. Please consider participating — our students are counting on us,” Dooley said.

For updated information, visit www.gvsu.edu/annualgiving.

Annual Giving Tops $1 Million for Third Year

Page 9: Horizons Spring 2009

Celebrating the year’s achieve-ments and learning about those to come, the Grand Valley University Foundation gathered for its annual meeting in October at the Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center.

Vice Chair Donna Brooks shared that gifts to the university hit an all-time high during the fiscal year 2008-2009, totaling $28.9 mil-lion. Brooks thanked the trustees for their participation, adding that among other accomplishments, the increase in giving created 17 new scholarships and seven new endow-ments, to date. “Your involvement keeps us rooted here at home and you challenge us to reach for new heights,” Brooks said.

Vice Chair Jim Brooks high-lighted some of the milestones of the Shaping Our Future campaign. These included progress in making the Mary Idema Pew Library a reality, and advancement in reaching the endow-ment goal for the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies (see articles on pages 4-7).

One result of the center’s progress was a program that has created the opportunity for students to meet face-to-face with former U.S. presidents and other national figures. Brooks said, “When you meet some of the world’s most powerful leaders during your for-mative years, your sense of possibility changes forever.”

President Thomas J. Haas also noted the tremendous strides made in Shaping Our Future, and recognized more than 20 of the campaign’s early leaders, who helped facilitate the uni-versity’s growth.

Showing how that sup-port is strengthening Grand Valley, Haas shared the second annual Accountability Report. He pointed out that the univer-sity’s freshmen had the second highest average GPA among Michigan’s public universi-ties and that 96 percent of all Grand Valley’s graduates are

employed or in graduate school.

“We are depending on you as never before, but I hope that today is proof that we are serving the region as never before,” Haas said.

Foundation Trustee J.C. Huizenga filled in tempo-

rarily for Membership Committee Chair Ed Clark, inducting and introducing new trustees and a new advisory cabi-net member.

Page 9

GVU Foundation Celebrates the Year’s Triumphs

Robert P. Bernecker James P. Keane David S. Sebastian

Scott D. Wierda James M. Teets Carol Van Andel Casey Wondergem*

Bari S Johnson

* Advisory Cabinet member

Page 10: Horizons Spring 2009

Page 10

Grand Valley Announces More Donor SocietiesIn recognition of the generous

support that Grand Valley has received from the community, parents, alumni, faculty and staff members, the university has established four new donor societ-ies.

“We are honored to be able to expand our donor societies,” said Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for Development. “As we have grown and matured, our donors have also become more sophisticated, more generous, and more numerous. To serve as good stewards to our supporters at all levels, it is important that we give recognition where recognition is due.”

In addition to the current Gillett Society, the four new societies will rec-ognize those who have given at top lev-els to the university over their lifetime, those who give loyally, and those who give yearly for priority annual needs.

These societies will be reflected in new giving materials as existing materi-als are used up.

DeVos SocietyThe DeVos Society recognizes the

extraordinary friends of Grand Valley who have made gifts totaling $1 million or more in their lifetime. DeVos Society members have helped to propel Grand Valley to its current status. Through their continued com-mitment, mem-bers will help the university achieve ever-increasing heights of service.

The society is named for Richard M. DeVos, president and later general chairman of the Grand Valley University Foundation from the 1990s to the pres-ent.

Members of the DeVos Society are recognized in the Annual Report, are invited to special receptions with the president and Foundation members, and receive special briefings, while provid-ing input on the future direction of the institution.

Seidman SocietySeidman Society members are rec-

ognized for their cumulative lifetime contributions. Those gifts may include cash, pledges, matching gifts and gifts-in-kind. Planned gifts such as annuities, bequests and trusts are included when the gifts are received.

The Seidman Society is named for L. William Seidman, former member of President Gerald R. Ford’s White House and founder of Grand Valley State. Seidman led the successful citizens’ effort to obtain the university’s charter in 1960. Seidman died on May 13, 2009, at age 88.

Seidman Society lifetime recognition levels are:

Founder’s Council $500,000 - $999,999 Pacesetter’s Council $250,000 - $499,999Benefactor’s Council $100,000 - $249,999

Members of the Seidman Society are recognized in the Annual Report, invited to receptions and receive special briefings on the future direction of the institution.

Lubbers Society The Lubbers Society is named in

honor of President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers, who at the end of his 32-year tenure was the longest-serving public university president in the United States. Through his ongoing dedication and support, Grand Valley has grown to become the institution that it is today, serving more than 24,000 students.

Membership in the Lubbers Society is open to all donors, at all levels, who have continuously supported the uni-versity and/or WGVU with their finan-

cial donations for five years or longer. It is most fit-ting that the Lubbers Society is named for Don, as according to university records, Don and Nancy Lubbers have the longest record of consecutive annual donations to GVSU.

University Society The University Society recognizes

the gifts of Grand Valley’s many donors who support the university’s tradition of academic excellence with gifts of $300 or more annually. These members have generously supported specific stu-dent scholarships, academic programs, as well as new facilities and technol-ogy initiatives. Their investments allow Grand Valley to continue advancing research, scholarship and academics.

There are six levels of the University Society, named to suggest the range of leadership roles available in the univer-sity setting to advance the progress of learning and education.

Governor’s Club $25,000 or more annuallyTrustee’s Club $10,000 - $24,999 annuallyPresident’s Club $5,000 - $9,999 annuallyProvost’s Club $2,500 - $4,999 annuallyDean’s Club $1,000 - $2,499 annuallyLeadership Club $ 300 - $ 999 annually

Members of the University Society are among the university’s largest and most visible group of donors. Members receive updates, newsletters, invita-tions to member-only events and are recognized in the Annual Report. Membership is based upon gifts made during the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. Matching gifts and gifts-in-kind are included in gift totals.

Arend D. Lubbers

L. William Seidman

Richard M. DeVos

Page 11: Horizons Spring 2009

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Gillett SocietyThe Gillett Society is named in honor

of Richard Gillett, a driving force in the creation of Grand Valley. Membership is comprised of supporters who have provided for Grand Valley through their will or estate plan. Those gifts may be directed to scholarships, to endowment funds, or to areas of special significance for the donor.

Membership recognition in the Gillett Society is permanent, with active and memorial members. All members are

recognized in the Annual Report and active members receive invi-tations to an event held exclu-sively for them.

For more information on Grand Valley’s donor societies or to join, visit www.gvsu.edu/development.

successful stores in the state, and the family operated the store for more than 50 years. Their faith and family tradi-tion meant the community shared in the Berkowitzes’ success.

Lanny Thodey, the Berkowitzes’ daughter, said: “I think it goes back to the Jewish tradition of tzedakah, which

is charity, give back, tak-ing care of the commu-nity. There’s another con-cept, tikun olan, which means to repair the world, leave the world a better place than it was before you came.”

Dan Hurwitz, their grandson, added: “My grandmother’s famous line was, ‘If you have two pennies in your pocket, you have one for charity.’ Because no matter how tough it is for us, some-one has it tougher.”

The next generation of the family has picked up the mantle to care for Hy and Greta’s legacy. The Berkowitz family has worked with Grand Valley to ensure that their scholarship adapts to the best educational practices today, providing support to students with a wide variety of challenging situations.

Twenty new scholar-ships and fellowships were established this year and celebrated at the dinner. They include the following:

• The John and Marjorie Shepard Communications Scholarship, estab-lished in the couple’s memory, sup-

ports students in the School of Communications.

• The First Generation Urban Schools Scholarship will help students from urban areas who are the first in their families to attend college.

Scholarship Dinner Celebrates Generositycontinued from page 1

Richard and Betty Gillett and President Arend D. Lubbers at the founding of the Gillett Society in 2001.

Pictured from left are Samantha, Stephanie and Dan Hurwitz, with son Nathan in front.

Scholarship recipient Carolin Ignash, left, talks with Lanny Thodey.

Betty Burton Groce, seated second from left, representing the Johnny C. Burton Memorial Scholarship, is with recipients, fam-ily and friends. Betty’s husband, Dan Groce, is seated at right.

Standing at left are David and Joyce Hecht, representing the Joyce Hecht Distinguished Scholarship in Philanthropy, along with recipients and family.

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Wesorick Center Set toTransform Health Care

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The Bonnie Wesorick Center for Healthcare Transformation will change the way health care professionals are trained by focus-ing on a true team approach.

Under the umbrella of Shaping Our Future, a formal campaign to support the Wesorick Center at Grand Valley was announced in February, with more than half of the $1 million needed already raised.

“Historically, each specialty involved in patient care has been taught inde-pendently,” said Cynthia McCurren, dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing, where the center will be housed. “This new model is designed to get members of the health care team out of their indi-vidual silos, train them to understand one another’s contributions, and include

the patient as part of the team.”

Bonnie Wesorick has spent her career improving communication and the care people receive in health care systems.

Twenty years ago, she founded the Clinical Practice Model Resource Center in Grand Rapids, where evidence-based practice has been formalized to enable health care providers to pull up data electronically on the best care models for a specific diagnosis.

Wesorick is a former faculty member of the Kirkhof College of Nursing.

“I’m very excited to partner with Grand Valley, a core leader in the Grand Rapids area that prepares excel-lent health care providers for our com-munity and beyond,” she said. “It is my vision that the impact of the cen-ter’s research and scholarly work will improve every aspect of health care, wherever the hands of those who give and receive care meet.”

Bonnie Wesorick

The Grand Valley State University community was sad-dened to learn that the founder of the univer-sity, L. William Seidman, passed away on May 13, 2009. It was his vision and ability to inspire the West Michigan community that resulted in Grand Valley’s charter in 1960.

His ongoing relationship with the university has strengthened the Seidman College of Business and other programs, while raising the university’s national profile.

A memorial service for family, friends, the university community, and West Michigan citizens is being planned, and will be announced at a later date.

In Memory L. William Seidman

1921–2009