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POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF SVSU | DECEMBER 2020
SVSU FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! EVERY STUDENT COMES TO SVSU WITH HOPES AND DREAMS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
OVER 50,000 ALUMNI 18,300 ALUMNI IN THE GREAT LAKES BAY REGION AND GOING STRONG!
Dear Friends, The SVSU of today represents the ongoing vision of our community for more than half of a century. We are who we are because of alumni, friends, businesses and foundations who understand the value of an SVSU education and have provided private gifts to build our university and support our students. The return on these investments is an abundance of talented SVSU alumni working in our communities and helping them thrive. Private support has always been a driving force in the development of SVSU and our students. Throughout the years, generous individuals and organizations have not only helped create the brick-and-mortar elements of our campus, you have also helped fund the “extras” that enhance the SVSU experience. Furthermore, scholarship support has made it possible for more students to pursue a college education, enabling them to make a difference in the communities they serve. Today, we are facing an unprecedented challenge. As students and their families face significant financial difficulties brought about by the pandemic, more financial support is needed. Even though SVSU has the lowest tuition of Michigan’s public universities, many of our students and their families struggle to fund the costs to begin or continue their education. Even for motivated, capable students, a college education may feel out of reach. This is a real challenge for our talent pipeline and the long-term success of our communities and work force. Your support makes a difference. At SVSU, our mission is to transform lives through educational excellence and dynamic partnership, unleashing possibilities for impact in our community and worldwide. That would not be possible without generous support from people like you. Through your contributions, you provide opportunities for SVSU students and transform lives. We are grateful, and we hope we can continue to earn your investment in our university, our students and the region. Thank you.
Donald J. Bachand President, SVSU
Kimberly A. Norris ’89, ’98 Chair, SVSU Foundation Board of Directors
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SVSU Foundation Board of Directors, 2019-2020 Kimberly A. Norris, Chair Donald J. Bachand, First Vice Chair David J. Abbs, Second Vice Chair Mary Anne Ackerman, Secretary James G. Muladore, Treasurer John D.L. Humphreys, Immediate Past Chair Andrew J. Bethune, Executive Director, SVSU Foundation Jenifer Acosta Waheed Akbar Victor H. Aviles Janet M. Botz Sheilda D. Braddock Luis G. Canales Scott L. Carmona John A. Decker Sarah L. Delahanty Mary F. Draves Anne H. Flegenheimer Richard Goedert Sean N. Hammond Deborah Huntley Lori J. Jurgens Wendy D. Kanar K. P. Karunakaran Bhushan S. Kulkarni John M. Kunitzer Thomas J. Nellenbach Kenneth G. Roznowski Vicki L. Rupp Linda L. Sims Cassie Jo Thierfelder Michael T. Tribble Rajkumari M. Wiener Katie Zehnder Weiss
THE MISSION OF THE SVSU FOUNDATION IS TO GENERATE A COMMUNITY OF ENTHUSIASTIC AND LOYAL DONORS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PREMIER UNIVERSITY OF OUTSTANDING STUDENTS. 2
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New Opportunities, New Challenges PRIVATE SUPPORT DRIVES SUCCESS AT SVSU
In the 2019-2020 academic year, as throughout SVSU’s history, support from donors has created opportunities, not only for SVSU students, but for the wider Great Lakes Bay Region.
In December 2019, the SVSU Foundation completed the First for Business Campaign for the Scott L. Carmona College of Business, raising more than $15.5 million in private donations to help fund the completion of the college expansion. This 38,500-square-foot expansion has given the Carmona College of Business a dedicated space with the technology necessary to deliver first-class business education to our students. The SVSU Foundation and the University celebrated the completion of the fundraising campaign and construction with a ribbon-cutting celebration in late February.
SVSU’s fifth annual day of giving chalked up a decisive win for Cardinal Athletics! Held the first weekend of February, the campaign coincided with Super Bowl LIV. We got into the spirit with a friendly competition to see which of SVSU’s 15 varsity athletic programs could rally the most spirit. By the end of our super weekend of giving, we had raised more than $83,000, making winners of all SVSU studentathletes. Plus, the football and basketball programs each won a $5,000 bonus, for the largest single gift and most votes, respectively. SVSU athletic programs provide opportunities for student-athletes and help them develop skills they can’t get in the classroom. Private support makes it possible for their athletic programs to operate. Thanks to all who put their support behind Cardinal Athletics!
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of organizations around the world participated in Giving Tuesday Now, a global day of giving and unity to provide relief for those impacted by the pandemic. On Tuesday, May 5, 106 alumni and friends made gifts totaling $23,775 for SVSU’s Student Emergency Fund and other funds. That support provided critical funding to help students facing unexpected financial challenges brought about by the pandemic.
NES T Plan
New Expectations for a Safer Tomorrow In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, students, faculty and staff have risen to the challenges presented by COVID-19 to create an environment where students feel safe and are encouraged to learn in the manner that works best for them. To ensure the safety of our campus community, SVSU has implemented changes in operations under the Cardinal NEST (New Expectations for a Safer Tomorrow) plan. SVSU students are working as NEST Ambassadors and Fellows to help implement this plan, focusing on three areas: Health and Wellness | Student Experience | Technology By involving SVSU students in the implementation of the NEST program, SVSU has created a unique synergy between scholarships, employment and service to the campus community. The opportunity to serve as NEST Ambassadors and Fellows not only helps students stay in college, it also prepares them with skills they will apply in the workforce. To help fund the NEST program, the SVSU Foundation has launched the Cardinal NEST campaign, with a goal of raising $300,000 to fund student scholarships and employment. The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation has made a $100,000 matching grant to the program. At publication time, the NEST program is a success: our infection rates stay low, students continue in-person classes, and the campus community practices responsible behaviors. Ambassadors and Fellows are integral to this success, as is donors’ investment in this program.
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FY2020 Statistics
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Sharpening Skills, On and Off the Ice
STUDENT FINDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AT SVSU
When he laces up his skates and takes the ice with the SVSU men’s club hockey team, Brendan Baker is able to take a mental break from his rigorous academic schedule while also honing skills that will help him be successful after college. “My passion is ice hockey,” said Brendan, a Petoskey/Harbor Springs native. “Being a member of the team has provided me with many opportunities for growth both personally and professionally,” Brendan said. “By participating I have to stay in shape physically, exercise my time management skills, and practice being a teammate that others respect. Additionally, playing hockey allows me the mental relaxation time I need away from my studies.”
Brendan Baker Scott L. Carmona College of Business BBA, May 2023
Opportunities – including the opportunity to play hockey – made SVSU the right place for Brendan. 7
“When I visited SVSU, the campus just ‘fit’ me,” Brendan said. “SVSU had the major I wanted, you could take classes in your major your first semester, the campus was very welcoming, scholarships were readily available, and I had the opportunity to skate at a tryout for the ice hockey team. The final push that sealed my decision to attend SVSU was the opportunity to participate in GARBER Cardinal Business Edge.” “Through the GARBER Cardinal Business Edge program, I’ll have the opportunity to take a week-long trip to Chicago in winter semester 2021 to examine business leadership firsthand. This experience will help me develop my leadership abilities and put into practice the skills I have learned from those in leadership positions around me at SVSU.” In addition to the GARBER Cardinal Business Edge, Brendan has found other opportunities for growth at SVSU. “As a Native American and member of the Sault Tribe of the Chippewa Indians, I have utilized the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at SVSU. On campus and through their activities I strive to foster diversity and inclusion.” Being involved is important to Brendan. So is financial stability. “Receiving scholarships has given me the opportunity to focus on my classes and be a full-time college student. Along with the money I earn from my summer job, scholarships help me pay my own way through school. I plan to graduate in four years, debt-free.”
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Without having to work during the school year, Brendan has more time to focus on classes and pursue volunteer opportunities in the community . . . and to play hockey.
Karli Bowerman College of Health & Human Services BSN, May 2021
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On the Path to Success
SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT BRINGS NURSING STUDENT TO SVSU
“Since my first health class, I took a lot of interest in health and the human body,” said Karli Bowerman, a senior from Saginaw who will graduate in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree. “I care greatly for other people, so I decided the best career for me was nursing.” When Karli was considering colleges, SVSU’s nursing program drew her attention. Ultimately, scholarship support was the deciding factor in her choice to attend. In addition to the university-funded Cardinal Scholarship, Karli receives the privately funded William F. McNally Scholarship for Student Success. “I received higher scholarship offers from other universities,” Karli said, “but SVSU’s cost of attendance was still less expensive. The amount of scholarship support and cost of tuition drove my decision when I sought universities to attend.” Since high school, Karli has held jobs to help cover her bills. Working off campus “allows me to pay my rent and utilities, and to buy gas, groceries, school supplies, nursing supplies, clothing, and more,” Karli said. “Scholarship support has allowed me to reduce the number of hours I need to work, so I can focus more on my studies. Because of that, I’ve been able to get good grades, which are required to be accepted into the nursing program,” she said. “Without the help of scholarships, I would have taken a different path for my career.” Karli is thankful for the opportunities private support has provided. “The word ‘gratitude’ cannot even explain how thankful I am. It is giving hearts like donors’ that can change students’ lives, just like my own.”
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John Kunitzer
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Getting to Know
John Kunitzer
CHAIR, SVSU BOARD OF CONTROL MEMBER, SVSU FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS John M. Kunitzer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from SVSU in 1973. He then joined Yeo & Yeo, PC, a CPA and business consultant firm. In his 40-year career with Yeo & Yeo, John, a certified public accountant, rose through the ranks, serving as president and CEO from 1997 until his retirement in 2012. John was appointed to the SVSU Board of Control by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013 and currently holds the position of chair. He also serves on the board of directors of the SVSU Foundation.
A dedicated community servant, John currently serves on the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw’s finance committee, Michigan Catholic Conference Lay Employees’ Pension Board and the Saginaw Township Planning Commission. He is also a member of the Saginaw Valley Rotary. John was presented the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award by the SVSU Alumni Association. We recently caught up with John to find out more about him. 11
Why do you serve on the Foundation Board of Directors? John: As a member of the SVSU Board of Control, I was able to choose to serve on the Foundation board as well. Finances and investments have always been one of my passions, so I was glad to be able to get involved with the Foundation. What do you value most about SVSU? John: I value the people who work at and with SVSU. They are so dedicated to making it a great university in so many ways. Each person offers their unique talents and they all work together as a great team. Everyone came together in this pandemic to figure out how to make it work for our students. Where is your favorite place on campus? John: Right now my favorite place on campus is the board room because I get to work with colleagues on the Board of Control and SVSU administration who I respect. In those meetings we have great discussions and decision-making with everyone working together to make this a great university. What are your hopes for SVSU and our students? John: My hope is that we can get back to some normalcy for everyone. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing everyone to have limited contact, we are losing the camaraderie of people working together and sharing time with each other through the different activities.
opportunity to use my talents. The other thing I look forward to each day is the opportunity to play golf if my schedule allows it, but I only play on days then end in “y.” Why would you recommend SVSU to the next generation of college students? John: I would recommend SVSU to any generation of college students because SVSU cares about their students, and all decisions are made with them in mind. We have such good people working towards the goal of providing a great education with great people servicing them by teaching, administration, food service, maintenance and I am sure I am missing lots of other areas. What keeps you awake at night? John: Besides the aches and pains of getting older, I try not to let much bother me. Occasionally some bad news may disturb me but I try to remember that worrying about things will not change it or make it go away. I may try to think of things that I can do or say that may have an impact on the situation. What keeps you coming back to campus? John: My commitment to SVSU by serving on the board keeps me coming back. I love the challenge that being chair of the board brings and being able to work with Don Bachand, Deb Huntley, Jim Muladore and Mary Kowaleski on the administration side and wonderful colleagues on the board of control. What is your best silver lining (a bad thing that turned out for the best)?
What gets you up in the morning? John: The honest answer to this is my cat. At 7 a.m. she comes in the bedroom meowing really loud. She says it is time to get up and feed her. Having said that, I do look forward to my different activities that I have scheduled for the day. I am retired from Yeo & Yeo CPAs but I am still on a number of community boards, which keeps my mind active and gives me the 12
John: This was a hard question, but after much thinking I decided on this: When I graduated from SVSU in 1973 with an accounting degree, I was so disappointed that I only received one job offer. I accepted the staff accountant position at Yeo & Yeo CPAs and started working for them. Forty-some years later I retired from Yeo & Yeo after having become a partner and then their CEO for my last 15 years
with them. It was such a great firm to work for as their work ethic and commitment to serving clients and giving back to the community allowed me to be involved with many nonprofit organizations over the years. What is one piece of advice you’d give your younger self? John: It took me awhile to learn this. I was a “reactionist.” If someone came to me with a problem that they thought someone else was causing, I would react immediately. I finally learned the hard way that the truth was usually in the middle.” I learned that I needed to be calm and sit down with the other person and get their side of the issue. Many times it really was a communication issue. I am glad that I finally learned that, but I wish I had learned it a little bit earlier on. One of the phrases that helped me from a management seminar I attended is “What I said and meant is not what you heard and understood.” What’s one thing people might not know about you? John: Most people don’t know that I went to a high school seminary for four years to become a priest. The seminary closed after my high school graduation and I decided to go to SVSU. I think God had other plans for me to use my business and accounting talents to help the church and the community. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be? John: Solving the world’s problems. What better dream could you have? If you had one extra hour of free time each day, how would you use it? John: Being retired, I already have lots of extra time so I don’t need the extra hour. Give it to someone else who could use it.
You’ve heard of the Giving Pledge (billionaires giving their money away). What would you do if you had more than a billion dollars to give away? John: There are so many good causes out there so it would be a hard choice, but it sure would be nice to be in that position. What do you feel is SVSU’s greatest contribution to the region? John: SVSU is proving a great education to a lot of people at one of the lowest tuition rates in the state. SVSU does not get enough credit for keeping their costs down so the tuition can be kept down. Also, SVSU provides a great resource to our community by providing us with a beautiful campus, employment and giving back to our community. As a former business leader in the region, what do you feel distinguishes SVSU graduates? John: The SVSU graduates we hired at Yeo & Yeo came to us with strong accounting fundamentals, ready to work and learn more. I always said the students came to us with the basic groundwork building blocks. It was just a starting point in their journey. Work is a lifelong learning process and they need to start building on the groundwork blocks. SVSU students understood this and were ready to take on the challenge.