Family & Friends

News & Updates

Family and friends Now and then, there comes a story that makes one stop and think about the true meaning of family.

The definition of family has changed enormously over the past few decades. According to www.dictionary.com, the most universal definition is “two or more people, who share goals and values and have long-term commitments to one another.” Thus, the strength of a family may have little to do with biology and everything to do with commitment.

Front: Terese Kreifels '09, Carlotta Bielfeldt and Justin Coyle '09 Back: Michael Rayfield '09 and Valerie Huber '09 On the Hilltop, one can hear the words “Bradley Family” resounding through

the halls. Although members of the Bradley Family are most often students, alumni, faculty and staff, a person can become part of a family based solely on a long lasting and satisfying relationship built through years of meaningful contributions. Take, for example, the family relationship Bradley has with Gary and Carlotta Bielfeldt.

The Bielfeldts were members of the Bradley Family many years before they established the Gary K. and Carlotta J. Bielfeldt Endowed Scholarship in 1982.

They are both avid Braves basketball fans, even though both Gary and Carlotta Bielfeldt graduated from the University of Illinois. They’ve enjoyed the cultural opportunities that abound on campus, and both Gary and Carlotta have served as members of the Bradley Board of Trustees.

“What is so gratifying about the Bielfeldts' support and involvement is that they did not have an obvious and direct tie to the university prior to their gift. Their philanthropy stems primarily from their values coupled with the philosophy that giving to the broader community helps make the community better. Their commitments to education, recreation, social services and healthcare organizations certainly include recognizing in a big way the value that Bradley adds to the Peoria-area,” said Gary Anna, vice president

for business affairs. “Bradley has been exceedingly grateful for their generous scholarship support and service over the years, and the University is proud to have recognized them with the President’s Award in 1989 and as Honorary Alumni in 1994.”

Although the name of their financial award has since been changed to the Bielfeldt Presidential Scholarship, the criteria remain the same. The scholarship is awarded to high school students ranked in the top 1 percent in their graduating class, enrolling at Bradley for their freshman year. Students are selected by the Bradley University Financial Assistance Office and the scholarship is renewable, providing the student continues to meet the scholarship requirements.

“Through the years, the Bielfeldt endowment has provided hundreds of Bradley students with nearly $2.5 million in financial aid. These additional funds have filled the gap between what the federal and state awards are and what the financial need is,” said Financial Assistance Director Dave Pardieck. “This year alone, income from the fund has been awarded to nearly 30 students totaling just less than a quarter of a million dollars.”

An endowment is a type of savings account where only the interest or portion of the interest is used for a special purpose. This arrangement allows for the donation to have a much greater impact over a longer period of time than if it were spent at once.

“Given the cost of college, some students are forced to base their decision on which university to attend not in order of preference, but in order of affordability. This type of scholarship helps Bradley remain highly competitive for the top students across the country by reducing the financial burden,” said Carlotta Bielfeldt. “By offering students this additional, merit-based scholarship, Bradley is often able to lure students away from other universities. This is how the university is able to keep the quality of students—and the work they produce—at a very high level. It allows them to focus more on classes and excel in their studies.”

According to Carlotta Bielfeldt, their endowment is not just in recognition of Bradley University and its students; it is in recognition of Peoria and the enormous gifts that Bradley has to offer this community.

“We are so fortunate to have such an outstanding university right here in our own backyard. Bradley is a major contributor to the area in so many ways. Students provide businesses with additional revenues; they volunteer thousands of hours to our events and causes; and they entertain us with their multitude of talents from theater to athletics,” said Carlotta Bielfeldt.

As the Bielfeldts have shown, one does not have to graduate from Bradley University to become a member of the Bradley family. Each year, thousands of people generously donate their time, talent and resources to benefit the University and its students. Many of them, like the Bielfeldts, do so because they understand that a strong and robust Bradley University benefits current students, along with all of us who are touched by the university.