C A M P A I G N Q U A R T E R LY
SPRING 2016
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 4
Descendant Auburn Oaks Newly planted trees represent a beloved Auburn tradition and provide an opportunity to create a philanthropic legacy. SEE PAGE 2
Rendering courtesy of Ben Burmester
Campaign Progress
$944 MILLION
94.4% of the $1 billion goal as of March 31, 2016
University selects design team for new performing arts center
McWhorter School of Building Science receives new endowed scholarships
Private giving helps develop customized 3D printed prosthetics
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Find more campaign news, photos, and resources at
BECAUSE.AUBURN.EDU
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CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2016
A P R I L marked one year since the public launch of Because This is Auburn — A Campaign for Auburn University and we have been amazed by the incredible response to this campaign.
Overall, we have made remarkable progress toward our goals for students and the programs that strengthen their academic experience. We have achieved 103 percent of our goal for programmatic support and 97 percent of our goal for student support. Additionally, we are well on our way to reaching our goal for faculty support, with 81 percent raised to date. We have achieved 72 percent of our goal for facilities. It also is noteworthy that nine of our individual units have achieved more than 100 percent of their goal, with seven units approaching that benchmark.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EVENT
DAT E
DESIGN CHARRET TE
MARCH 2016
But there is more to do — and more to accomplish. Each gift, no matter the size, not only attests to the dedication of Auburn’s alumni and friends, but also demonstrates that Auburn is committed to providing an education that rivals those of the best institutions in the country. The success of these efforts can be attributed to you and your generous philanthropy. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far, but we are prouder still of where this campaign will take Auburn in the future.
Joe Forehand ’71 Campaign Co-chair
Gayle Forehand ’70 Campaign Co-chair
C A M PA I G N Q UA R T E R LY
Vice President for Development President, Auburn University Foundation Jane DiFolco Parker Associate Vice President for Communications, Marketing, and Campaign Strategy Jason Peevy ’92 Editorial Staff Beth L. Smith ’88, Editor Lisa Lofland Michael Tullier ’98 Katie Wilder ’00 Designer Emily Wilkins Photography Jeff Etheridge Melissa Humble Alastair Battson Jerrod Windham Janet Guynn T2Photography Campaign Quarterly is published four times a year by the Office of Development Communications and Marketing. For editorial information, contact Beth Smith at smithel@auburn.edu or 334.844.2924.
A New Generation of
AUBUR N OA KS Ten descendant trees of the original Auburn Oaks now line a section of the new Samford Park walkway that spans from Samford Hall to Toomer’s Corner. Each tree represents a beloved Auburn tradition — as well as an opportunity for donors to create a philanthropic legacy at Auburn.
member in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, initiated a program to ensure the Auburn Oaks' legacy. Under his leadership, Forestry Club and Wildlife Society members cultivated acorns from the original trees and raised and sold more than 3,600 seedlings to support student projects.
Last fall, the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences began offering donors the opportunity to name one of these Auburn Oaks descendants in recognition of a $50,000 commitment to the school. These pledges, which can be fulfilled over multiple years, will be invested as part of a larger endowed fund for excellence to support urgent needs and emerging opportunities in the school.
The addition of the Auburn Oaks descendant trees completes the multi-year Samford Park redevelopment project, which began in 2013. Phase I of the project included removing contaminated soil, building a new seating area, and planting two new oaks at Toomer's Corner. Phase II began in the summer of 2015 with the installation of the 14-foot-wide walkway.
“As these trees mature and flourish in Samford Park, they will be visual reminders of the enduring legacy created by the philanthropic gifts that named them,” said Dean Janaki Alavalapati. “This support not only will further initiatives benefiting our students and industry alike, but also will connect those recognized through the naming of these trees with one of Auburn’s most time-honored traditions.” The descendant oaks are approximately 15 years old and 15 feet tall. In 2001, Scott Enebak, a faculty
Currently, six of the 10 trees remain available for naming. Following approval by Auburn's Board of Trustees, an engraved brass plaque on a granite plinth will be placed at the base of each tree recognizing those honored by each gift.
For additional information about this naming opportunity, visit WWW.AUBURN.EDU/SAMFORDOAKS
H3 H A R DY CO L L A B O R AT I O N A R C H I T E C T U R E
As plans for a new performing arts center move forward, Auburn University has selected tvsdesign of Atlanta and Wilson Butler Architects of Boston as the architectural team to lead the design of the center. Wilson Butler contended with three other national firms for the opportunity as part of a four-day design charrette held in March. WILSON BUTLER ARCHITEC TS
“The intent of the charrette was not to select a design for the performing arts center, but rather to select the architectural firms,” said Jim Carroll, university architect. “It was important to see how these teams worked together and with the university.”
arts center that will enrich the cultural life and profile of Auburn University, the local community, and the region,” said Parker. “The architects and designers selected will help us create a facility that provides spaces that can be named through philanthropic gifts at various levels.”
During the event, each design team set up a studio in a meeting room at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center and worked to develop design concepts related to the university’s vision for the center. Each team also had access to a theater consultant and an acoustician. At the conclusion of the charrette, each team presented its design concepts to a selection committee of representatives from across the university.
Wilson Butler is known nationally for its work designing performing arts centers, historic theaters, academic art facilities and high-tech entertainment venues. "Wilson Butler was selected based upon their understanding of the processes, development of strong solutions, support of our constituents and their connection with the community in a substantive way during the charrette," Carroll said.
Last year, 1957 graduates John and Rosemary Brown committed $25 million to help construct the performing arts center. According to Jane DiFolco Parker, vice president for development and president of the Auburn University Foundation, the university is seeking an additional $15 million in private support to ensure the completion of the project. “The charrette was an opportunity for us to see exciting concepts emerge for a new performing
Other firms participating in the charrette included H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture of New York, Pfeiffer Partners of Los Angeles, and Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland, as well as regional architectural firms Davis Architects, Live Design Group, and Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, all of Birmingham, and Stevens & Wilkinson of Atlanta.
W E S T L A K E R E E D L E S KO S K Y
PFE I FFE R PA R T N E R S
The performing arts center, which will be located across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, is scheduled for completion in March 2019.
For Brooke Walker ’97, the opportunity to connect someone special to a cherished Auburn tradition was not something she was willing to miss. She and her father, Willard Peebles, were among the first to name a tree to honor the memory of her father-in-law, late Auburn President William F. Walker. "My dad and I wanted to do something special for my mother-in-law, my sisterin-law, and my husband for Christmas," said Brooke. "So when this came up, we thought it was something special that we could do. This is one area [on campus] where the entire Auburn Family comes together, so we thought this was the right way to remember my father-in-law.” President Walker's widow, Myrna, and their son, Forrest ’95, were on the Auburn University campus when the descendant trees were planted. Both expressed their belief that the effort to preserve the Auburn Oaks’ lineage further honored the former president, who, during his university tenure, originally suggested finding a way to preserve the tradition of the Auburn Oaks. "A lot of things have happened on campus that he started years ago," Myrna said of her husband, who served as Auburn’s president from 2001-04 and died in 2007. "As these things are completed, I think he would be really happy about them. It makes me proud."
Pictured from left: Willard Peebles , Myrna Walker, Brooke Walker, and Forrest Walker
“This is one area [on campus] where the entire Auburn Family comes together, so we thought this was the right way to remember my father-in-law.” —Brooke Walker 3
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CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2016
STUDENTS
W H Y is Because This is Auburn — A Campaign for Auburn University so important to our institution? Why does it matter so much? It matters because it is about securing the future. It is about funding big ideas — the ideas that will transform the world by transforming the students who pass through our doors. It provides them a global perspective when they study abroad, construct an irrigation system in Bolivia, or build sustainable housing in rural Alabama. It matters because it demonstrates to our faculty that we are committed to supporting the finest educators and researchers who have a passion for preparing tomorrow’s leaders. Your gifts enable them to conduct leading-edge research that improves our quality of life in many crucial areas, such as cyber security, food management, healthcare, and sustainable energy. It matters because gifts to this campaign are creating state-ofthe-art facilities such as a new classroom building equipped for emerging learning styles, a much-needed nursing school facility, and an engineering student achievement center to better meet the needs of our students. Your gifts to Because This is Auburn make a tremendous difference. Your giving translates into making the world a better place and affirms your belief in our potential.
HOAR CONSTRUCTION ENDOWS BUILDING SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS Demonstrating the importance of Auburn’s industry partnerships, Hoar Construction of Birmingham, Ala., has committed $100,000 to endow new scholarships for McWhorter School of Building Science students in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. The scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students based on academic merit, as well as demonstrated leadership and community engagement. “We see Auburn as a valuable resource for future construction leaders,” said Steve McCord, executive vice president and COO of Hoar Construction. “Auburn’s commitment to excellence makes its graduates tomorrow’s leaders.” As one of the nation’s largest and most respected construction management programs, the McWhorter School of Building Science has more than 3,000 graduates located worldwide, including many who lead the construction industry in the Southeast. “Hoar’s generous commitment to scholarships ensures Auburn will continue to recruit and retain outstanding young men and women to building science,” said Richard Burt, McWhorter professor and head of the McWhorter School of Building Science. “This gift reflects Hoar’s dedication to the future of the construction industry, and we are grateful for Hoar’s longtime support of our students and partnership with our programs.” Hoar’s gift will support the College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s commitment to raise $5 million to create at least 70 new scholarships and fund student innovation, international study, and undergraduate research opportunities. Hoar Construction celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. The company is a leading provider of construction management, general contracting, and design/build services to retail, healthcare, commercial, educational, industrial, and government clients throughout the country, with offices in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.
FACILITIES
Gift to support new poultry research complex honors industry pioneer Through a gift of $2.5 million, Charles C. “Buddy” Miller and his wife, Pinney Allen, are investing in the future of Auburn’s poultry science program. The couple’s gift, given in memory of his parents, Charles C. Miller Jr. and Virginia Doke Miller, will support and name the College of Agriculture’s Poultry Research and Education Center in honor of Charles Miller Jr., a 1938 Auburn graduate and poultry industry pioneer.
I encourage you to join our efforts to shape a better Auburn. Why? Because this is Auburn.
Jane DiFolco Parker Vice President for Development President, Auburn University Foundation
Charles C. Miller Jr.
Charles Miller Jr.’s innovation in contract growing, feed milling, breeding, and hatchery operations led to major gains in broiler production and efficiency within the poultry industry. His vision paved the way for the poultry industry to modernize and grow. "My father would be proud of how far the poultry industry has advanced since its humble beginnings," Buddy Miller said. "And, he would be excited that Auburn will continue to play a leading role in the industry's future." The Charles C. Miller Jr. Poultry Research and Education Center will allow the Department of Poultry Science to combine research facilities for the entire poultry food chain and enable
faculty to sustain and advance the Alabama poultry industry. In addition, it will provide students with an outstanding educational experience that equips them to be industry leaders and innovators. Located in north Auburn adjacent to the new Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Feed Mill and Animal Nutrition Building, the new state-of-the-art facility replaces the existing poultry farm that was built more than 40 years ago and will further the department’s vision of becoming the premier poultry science department in the world. “The gift from the Miller family honors the legacy of Charles Miller and will allow Auburn University to continue improving the efficiency of poultry production,” said Paul Patterson, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. “This is important to the College of Agriculture, the Alabama economy, and to our world. We are extremely grateful for this generous gift that will have an enduring and widespread impact.”
CAMPAIGN PROGRESS As of December 31, 2015
94.4%
OF $1 BILLION GOAL
82.0%
OF CA MPAIGN EL APSED
Draughon gift keeps support for Auburn in the family As a historian, Ralph B. Draughon Jr. ’58 recognizes the importance of items that reflect the past to future generations. To further that objective, he recently committed a $1.5 million estate gift to support both the Auburn University Libraries and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The Libraries, whose main building is named for Draughon’s father, former Auburn University President Ralph Brown Draughon ’22, will use the gift to create an endowment for the acquisition of archival materials, including manuscripts and historical imprints related to Alabama history. “In my own research, I delight in manuscripts of long ago, particularly personal letters,” said Draughon, who received a bachelor’s degree in history at Auburn and a doctorate in Southern history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “I want students of tomorrow to discover how captivating old letters and documents can be. They bring the past alive.”
During his 18-year tenure as Auburn’s 10th president, Draughon’s father undertook the extensive and complicated process to purchase from the federal government the Advancing American Art collection in 1948, which became the bedrock of the Jule Collins Smith Museum's permanent collection. The museum will use Draughon’s gift to further develop its collections of paintings, prints, and pottery related to Alabama and the South. Draughon, who donates annually to the museum’s 1072 Society, said he would like the museum to have a strong Southern collection and is pleased the university has a place to exhibit art connected to Auburn and the state of Alabama. He also noted his family’s century-old ties to Auburn and that supporting Auburn is a longtime family custom. “I hope that I too can have a small part in maintaining that tradition,” he added.
“I want students of tomorrow to discover how captivating old letters and documents can be. They bring the past alive.”
CAMPAIGN FUNDS RAISED PROGRESS BY CAMPAIGN FOCUS AREA
26%
7%
14%
53%
Student Support $244.0 MILLION
Program Support $504.3 MILLION
Faculty Support $65.5 MILLION
Facilities Support $129.9 MILLION
ANNUAL VS. ENDOWED
66%
Annual $622.4 MILLION
34%
Endowed $321.3 MILLION
PROGRESS TOWARD UNIT CAMPAIGN GOALS AGRICULTURE
—Ralph B. Draughon Jr. ’58
ALUMNI AFFAIRS ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ATHLETICS AUBURN UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY BUSINESS
Alumni create legacy to honor respected professor
DIVERSITY & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS EDUCATION ENGINEERING FORESTRY & WILDLIFE SCIENCES GRADUATE SCHOOL HONORS COLLEGE HUMAN SCIENCES
For 22 years, Amy Murphy ’88 has been the face of the Master of Accountancy program in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. As the school’s director of accounting graduate programs, she has mentored and inspired countless students to success in a demanding academic program. As a result of her commitment to her students — and in recognition of the important role that faculty play at Auburn — Murphy’s former students, School of Accountancy advisory board members, faculty, and some of her former Ernst & Young colleagues have pledged $500,000 toward the creation of the Amy B. Murphy Accounting Excellence Endowment. The endowment will fund an endowed faculty chair in accounting and will support a faculty
member who has established himself or herself as one of the most respected accounting faculty in the country. Support for faculty is a critical component of the school’s vision to be a preeminent School of Accounting. More than 60 percent of the contributors to the endowment were master of accountancy alumni who were influenced by Murphy’s dedication to providing an exceptional education. “Amy’s love of and devotion to the School of Accountancy is unmatched,” said DeWayne Searcy, former director of the school. “She is the reason many students have graduated with an accounting major from Auburn. I have worked side by side with her for the past four years, and I am amazed at what she does and how she lives her life by The Auburn Creed.”
LIBERAL ARTS LIBRARIES MUSEUM OF FINE ART NURSING OUTREACH PHARMACY RESEARCH SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS STUDENT AFFAIRS UNIVERSITY FACILITIES UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES VETERINARY MEDICINE
107% 93% 90% 90% 121% 98% 80% 92% 105% 108% 83% 67% 80% 101% 115% 116% 105% 99% 76% 87% 80% 90% 56% 118% 89%
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CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY | SPRING 2016
Unit Campaign Updates COLLEGE OF
Agriculture
Through generous outright and planned gifts, Imogene Mathison Mixson ’63 recently established the David Whigham Mixson Endowed Fund for Excellence in honor of her late husband, a 1949 graduate in agricultural science. The fund supports students, faculty, and programs in the college. Mixson also pledged additional support to the existing David Whigham Mixson Endowed Scholarship in the College of Agriculture.
RAYMOND J. HARBERT COLLEGE OF
Business
Roy ’72 and Phyllis Dobbs have committed a $2 million planned gift to support scholarships for first generation college students. Roy previously served as mayor of Berry, Ala., and the Dobbs understand the difficulties many young people from rural areas face when trying to secure funding for a quality college education. Their gift will support students from rural counties in Alabama who demonstrate financial need.
OFFICE OF
Alumni Affairs
Tiger Trek 2016 will kick off in May with a series of seven Auburn Club events featuring Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn. During the previous three years of Tiger Trek, Auburn Clubs raised more than $320,000 for scholarship endowments. Currently, the Auburn Alumni Association, with support from 92 Auburn Clubs, funds 233 scholarships, which equals 11 percent of the total student scholarships at Auburn University. COLLEGE OF
Architecture, Design and Construction
Mike Rogers, a 1987 building science graduate, has created Auburn’s first endowed scholarship in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design. The Michael C. Rogers Endowed Scholarship will support students in the school’s top-ranked industrial design and graphic design programs. Rogers is president of Mobile-based contractor Rogers & Willard and serves as chair-elect of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction Executive Board. He also is chairman of the Centre for Living Arts in Mobile.
Athletics Department
Joey Pierson, a 1986 accountancy graduate, is the most recent donor to join Tigers Unlimited’s Oaks Society, which honors those whose cumulative giving to Auburn Athletics, beyond ticket priority, is $1 million or more. Pierson is the executive vice president and CFO of Tacala, LLC. He also has created The Joey Pierson Endowed Fund for Excellence in the School of Accountancy. He serves as a member of the Athletics Strategic Advisory Committee and the School of Accountancy Advisory Board.
Auburn University at Montgomery
Carlos Thomas ’94 has established the ThomasWalton Endowed Scholarship in AUM’s College of Business. The scholarship is named in honor of his grandparents and will support students pursuing degrees in information systems. Thomas, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in information systems, currently works for a Baltimore-based technology firm as a systems engineer in its United Arab Emirates office in Abu Dhabi.
have collaborated with students, faculty, staff, and alumni through town hall meetings and surveys to collect ideas for the new center. SCHOOL OF
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Timber Products Inspection provided a $40,000 gift to support research in the school’s Forest Products Development Center. These funds will be used to conduct research addressing wood quality issues, specifically strength and stability, for the forest products industry. Such research will fuel growth in the forest products industry, which represents the second largest industry in Alabama, and will help power its economy through revenue and jobs.
Graduate School
OFFICE OF
Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
Through the generosity of donors, the Provost’s Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship (PLUS) program continues to provide financial, academic, and social support to students like Apollos Abercrombie, a first-generation college student from Maplesville, Ala. The PLUS program not only provides Abercrombie with financial assistance, but also equips him with the tools necessary for educational success. Recognized for his academic achievement each semester, Abercrombie has accepted a job with Eli Lily, a Fortune 500 pharmaceuticals company, following his graduation this spring. COLLEGE OF
Education
Alabama Korean car manufacturing companies are supporting the college’s Global Studies for Teachers Project led by Jung Won Hur, associate professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology. This project prepares teachers and administrators to work with the growing population of Korean students and families moving into East Alabama and has made a significant difference in helping these families transition to a new culture.
Curtis O. Liles III ’70 and his wife, Jean Wickstrom Liles, recently established an endowment to support the most critical needs of Auburn’s graduate students, including travel, research, professional development, dissertation and thesis completion, and new programming opportunities. Thanks to the Curtis O. Liles III and Jean Wickstrom Liles Endowed Fund for Excellence, the Graduate School will have resources to support the academic, professional, and personal success of its graduate students.
Honors College
Jane and Sherman Pitts recently made a gift to support study and travel scholarships for honors students. The Pitts know firsthand through their daughter’s study abroad experience that international study is one of the most beneficial academic, personal, and professional opportunities for students. Such experiences challenge students to work globally, think critically, and to view the world differently. The Pitts’ gift will allow Honors College students to take advantage of these transformative study and travel experiences. COLLEGE OF
Human Sciences
Former Auburn University president James E. Martin ’54 established the Ann Freeman Martin Endowed Scholarship to honor his wife, Rachel Ann Freeman Martin ’57. Ann served Auburn as its first lady for eight years. Ann received a bachelor’s degree in home economics and, following graduation, was a home economist for Alabama Gas Corporation in Birmingham. COLLEGE OF
SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF
Engineering
Private support is making possible two major renovations and a highly anticipated engineering facility. In addition to the renovation of the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory and Broun Hall, the shops and L-Building will be razed to begin construction of the BrownKopel Engineering Student Achievement Center. College representatives have traveled to universities across the country to assess comparable student support facilities. They also
Liberal Arts
Joseph Vonasek, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, established an endowed scholarship for students in the public administration program. He joined the Auburn faculty in 2012 following a 25-year career in public administration as an executive for local and state governments. Vonesek credits his parents with giving him a desire to succeed and the basic skills and tools to do so. He hopes this scholarship assists students who also aspire to careers in public service.
The new $29 million, 89,000-square-foot School of Nursing building will be located in the new health sciences sector and will include a tiered auditorium, active learning classrooms, a skills lab and simulation suite, a student lounge, public spaces, faculty offices, and group meeting rooms.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING
Libraries
A new endowment has been established in memory of Robert C. Gibbs, thanks to a $100,000 gift from his wife, Nancy, and son, former White House Press Secretary Robert L. Gibbs. The Robert C. Gibbs Endowed Fund for Excellence will support the educational needs of students and the research efforts of faculty through library collections. Robert C. Gibbs worked for Auburn University Libraries from 1968-92 and remained committed to supporting its collections after his retirement. In honor of his dedication and in recognition of the generosity of the Gibbs family, the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Robert C. Gibbs Conference Room in the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. JULE COLLINS SMITH
Museum of Fine Art
Donors to the museum’s annual 1072 Society Campaign have provided funds to add 15 photographs to its collection through individual charitable gifts of $1,072 in tribute to the amount paid in 1948 to start a university art collection. This year marks the most funds ever raised through society memberships and establishes photography as a significant part of the museum’s collection for instruction, research, and outreach. Artists include William Christenberry, Harold Eugene “Doc” Edgerton, Walker Evans, and other historic and contemporary examples. SCHOOL OF
Nursing
Although the school has surpassed its $13.6 million campaign goal, it remains focused on garnering additional support for its 89,000-square-foot facility currently under construction at the corner of Lem Morrison and Donahue drives. This future gateway to Auburn’s newly developed health sciences sector has been made possible, in part, by philanthropic gifts to the school, including a $500,000 commitment from Tom ’72 and Susan Lowder.
University Outreach
Expanding its development efforts, University Outreach recently hired Kristi MeGahee ’11 to serve as its first development officer. MeGahee will raise funds to enhance the office’s lifelong learning and high impact, community-centered programs. She currently is focusing her efforts on the unit’s $1.6 million campaign goal that will support students and faculty who are integral to the success of its programs. A former Miss Auburn, MeGahee previously served as a student recruiter and academic adviser for the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. HARRISON SCHOOL OF
Pharmacy
Recently named as the CVS Pharmacy Partner of the Year and chosen for its annual Corporate Giving Award, the school will receive $25,000 to support student scholarships and programs. Each year, CVS receives numerous nominations for this honor. The company identified Auburn as a strong partner in creating clinicians, managers, and leaders for the profession.
Ballengers support Auburn with charitable IRA rollover
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
Research and Economic Development
Scott Renner, with the College of Education’s Center for Disability Research and Service, and Jerrod Windham, a professor in industrial design, are using 3D printed prosthetics to aid wounded veterans. Private giving enabled Windham and Renner to purchase two printers, and they are working with two veterans to help them regain functionality. The prosthetic solutions, which are developed by students, are highly specific and entirely customizable through the 3D printing process.
With a commitment to serve additional students through enhanced educational opportunities, Jim ’59 and Bettye ’59 Ballenger are using a charitable IRA rollover to continue providing fellowships for graduate students and ongoing funds for excellence in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the Auburn University Libraries. A charitable IRA rollover is a unique way to support Auburn that allows donors who are more than 70 and a half years old to make a tax-free distribution from their IRA to a charitable organization. Because this distribution is excluded from the donor’s taxable income for that year, no taxes are paid on that amount. By directly transferring their IRA distribution to the Auburn University Foundation, the Ballengers continue to demonstrate their dedication to Auburn University through their philanthropic giving. For more information about charitable IRA rollovers, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 334-844-7375 or plannedgiving@auburn.edu.
COLLEGE OF
Sciences and Mathematics
Erin Torstrick Prince, biomedical sciences ’04, has created the Dr. Erin Torstrick Prince Endowed Scholarship, which will be awarded to an out-of-state student with a pre-health concentration. Prince is an assistant professor specializing in breast imaging in the Department of Radiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While at Auburn, she was involved in numerous organizations and honor societies and was the recipient of a COSAM Dean’s Golf Classic Scholarship. DIVISION OF
Student Affairs
Stacey and Jeff Diamond recently established the Diamond Family Endowment in Student Affairs through a gift of $50,000. Their generosity will enable Student Affairs to continue providing students with high quality mental health programs through Student Counseling Services on campus. Student Affairs is committed to supporting students with healthy development that enables them to fulfill their potential. COLLEGE OF
Veterinary Medicine
A generous donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has established a planned gift that will provide $2 million to support scholarships. This gift will help increase the number of large animal veterinarians in Alabama and will encourage students to practice large animal medicine. The donor also enjoys attending weekly clinical rounds with vet med students and learning alongside them.
OFFICE OF DONOR RELATIONS
Planned gift donors honored at Petrie Society event At its biennial ceremony and reception on April 1, the George Petrie Society inducted 227 new members representing 137 households. Created in 1998 to honor donors who have planned gifts benefiting Auburn University, the society was expanded in 2008 to include Auburn University at Montgomery. Membership in the George Petrie Society now stands at 1,527 individuals representing 955 households. George Petrie’s The Auburn Creed created an enduring legacy that now defines and unites the Auburn Family. His creed has provided unforgettable words of inspiration for generations of Auburn students, alumni, and friends. The George Petrie Society emphasizes the vital importance of planned gifts— charitable commitments through wills, life insurance, annuities, or trusts — and honors donors for creating a legacy for Auburn University.
Find more campaign updates, news, and publications at
BECAUSE.AUBURN.EDU
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Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.
Because now is the time for every member of the Auburn Family to join together for the future of this institution. Return service requested. NON PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #100 AUBURN, AL
MELL CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
The Mell Classroom Building, which includes a 69,000-square-foot building addition to the existing Ralph Brown Draughon Library, is the first in a series of construction projects that will enhance teaching and learning at Auburn by offering modern, flexible, problem-based learning spaces. The project will include 40 new and renovated group study rooms, 29 active learning classrooms, two lecture halls, and food venues. The total $35 million budget for the project includes $25 million from university funds. As part of Because This is Auburn — A Campaign for Auburn University, the university is seeking an additional $10 million through philanthropic gifts and naming opportunities within the facility. Construction began Dec. 14, 2015, and the building is slated for completion in summer 2017.
Auburn University Foundation 317 S. College Street Auburn, Alabama 36849-5153
Building Auburn’s future