FINAL WINTER 09 COVERS:SPRING 06 COVERS PGI
12/16/09
10:26 AM
Page 2
W W II N NT T EE R R 22 00 00 99 -- 11 00
Found at Sea Jeanette Wyneken ’78 unlocks mysteries of one of Earth’s most ancient creatures.
FINAL WINTER 12-21-09:Layout 1
12/22/09
8:54 AM
Page 27
TRANSFORMING LIVES PROGRESS
$125 Million 2014 Goal
$76.6 Million December 2009 total
C A M PA I G N U P D AT E
Creating Opportunities: The Endowment for Students “I was fortunate enough to be a scholarship student here. I want other students to be able to come to this University who would not otherwise have been able to — people like me.” — Todd French ’93 ifts to the campaign do more than help students in need. They create bridges between more than 150 years of the Illinois Wesleyan tradition, and provide the security of knowing that the University will continue to transform the futures of generations of students to come. ose who contribute to the Student Endowment Fund create a direct link to ensuring students can attend Illinois Wesleyan. Currently, nine out of 10 IWU students receive some form of assistance, whether through scholarship or aid. It is the goal of the Transforming Lives campaign to help provide assistance for all students who meet the requirements of excellence to attend Illinois Wesleyan.
G
GOAL: $30 MILL ION More than half the student body at Illinois Wesleyan requires need-based financial aid, meaning they would be unable to attend school without this assistance. On average, the financial aid package for IWU students totals approximately $25,000 per year. There once was a time when Illinois Wesleyan could meet the needs of all deserving students, and attract the brightest students from all economic backgrounds. In recent years, the ability of the University to meet demonstrated financial need has diminished, making it impossible for some highly qualified students to enroll. Others come to school burdened with debt and struggle to balance their studies with on- and off-campus jobs. 28
IllINOIS WESlEyAN UNIvErSITy MAGAzINE
WINTER 2009-10
Securing funding for 150 Promise Awards and 125 Titan Scholarships will help ensure that Illinois Wesleyan remains both competitive and affordable. “Each year, we lose top students who prefer to attend Illinois Wesleyan, but the financial commitment is too great for the family,” said Illinois Wesleyan Dean of Admissions Tony Bankston ’91. “With the escalating costs of providing the highest quality education, it is imperative to provide students with enough financial assistance to make a Wesleyan education affordable.” e Student Endowment Fund gives opportunities for Wesleyan alumni to transform students’ lives in two ways: Promise Awards Promise Awards through the Student Endowment Fund offer assistance in the form of $2,500 to help close the financial need gap. The Transforming Lives campaign hopes to secure funds for 150 Promise Awards. Titan Merit Scholarships The Student Endowment Fund’s Titan Merit Scholarships offer assistance in the form of $5,000 awards designed to attract talented and deserving students. The Transforming Lives campaign hopes to secure funds for 125 Titan Merit Scholarships.
FINAL WINTER 2-29 F:Layout 1
12/18/09
9:15 AM
Page 28
Alumni friends form giving circles to provide student scholarships he concept of “social networking,” as exemplified by online communities like Facebook, is second nature to many Illinois Wesleyan alumni. a new initiative is using this same idea to spark interest in supporting current students. “giving circles” are small groups of alumni who pool their contributions to fund scholarships or fill other needs at Wesleyan. Most of these groups are grassroots efforts, organized by enthusiastic alumni who reach out to friends and acquaintances they met on the IWU campus. gretchen grabowski ’03, who organized a giving circle of 21 young alumni, says,“It’s easy to form a cohesive group Brian Moore ’94, Rich Kozlowski ’94, Pat Casey ’95 and Julie Clausing ’94 belong to a giving circle that raises funds through a yearly golf outing. with people you know and have already formed connections with as a student.” Doug says that he and his fellow donors would like to By pooling smaller donations with friends or classmates, offer career and networking guidance and other support to donors can “see the tangible results,” gretchen adds. a total their scholarship recipient. “We’d like to do something giving-group contribution of $2,500 per year can fund a more than just write a check,” he says. scholarship for a student in need. gretchen says the opportunity to get to know the stue members of gretchen’s group, whose graduation years dents who benefit from the scholarships funded by giving range from 1999 to 2004, keep in touch by e-mail. e comcircles is part of the concept’s mitment from individuals who are appeal. “one of the most difficult part of the group ranges from $100 to components of raising money is $600 per year for three years. some, letting people know where their including gretchen, have arranged to donations are going,” gretchen have a monthly contribution charged says. “With this, you get to see the automatically to their credit cards, results of your generosity.” making the donation process even ere are currently 11 organized more convenient. giving circles, with several more in another giving circle is led by the works. University advancement Doug Macomber ’93, who organizes staff intentionally started out with a yearly golf outing for around 30 of only a few of these groups and are his fellow Illinois Wesleyan alumni. now expanding the initiative. is is the fourteenth year for the Doug Macomber (left) meets with Mike Handke ’11, “e opportunities to foster those event, which began soon aer the the recipient of a scholarship from a giving circle connections seem endless,” says Jeff group le Wesleyan. “as we graduat- launched by Doug and several of his IWU friends. Mavros ’98, who is the University’s ed from college and everyone got assistant director of the Wesleyan Fund. Jeff adds that IWU jobs we got pulled apart,” Doug says. “It really started out as alumni who are interested in launching their own giving an excuse to get everyone back together once a year.” circles are encouraged to contact the advancement office although the outing has supported worthy causes for the for help getting started. past five years, this was the first year that proceeds have benefited an Illinois Wesleyan student. Donors who help fund these scholarships also have the Go online to read more about the Transforming Lives opportunity to meet and offer guidance and advice to the campaign (including a Web edition of the juststudents they benefit. ey can also determine the criteria published 2008-09 Annual Report of Giving). on which their scholarship will be presented — meaning that giving circles made up of alumni from a certain campus or greek organization can honor a current student who shares their interests.
t
www.iwu.edu/campaign IllInoIs Wesleyan UnIversIty MagazIne
WINTER 2009-10
29