FISCAL YEAR 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
U C M A L U M N I F O U N D AT I O N B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
Front row, left to right: Gary Abram, ‘75; Leslie Krasner, ‘78; Jessica Ramirez, ‘99, ‘07; Keith Schreiman, ‘73; Michael Harding, ‘73; Kelly Harbert, ‘86; Linda Wade, ‘70, ‘80; Linnette Garber, ‘74; Mike Hanna, ‘87; Mark Schupp, ‘78 Middle row, left to right: Bill Westhoff, ‘69; Mike Orndorff, ‘85; Ronald Roby, ‘77; Diane Dudley, ‘81; Scott Taylor, ‘89; Richard Phillips, ‘65, ‘67, ‘72 Back row, left to right: Ron Umphenour, ‘76; Ken Kempker, ‘86; Homer Kay, ‘78; Peter Carmack, ‘93; Mike Davidson, ‘78; Randy Rahe, ‘77; John Collier, ‘86 (President, UCM Board of Governors, and Ex-Officio Member of UCM Alumni Foundation) Not appearing in the photograph: Eric Campbell, ‘97; Wade Carpenter, ‘89; Jim Hatfield, ‘80; Tim McClellan, ‘88; Anand Mehta, ‘75 Gary Abram, ‘75, Blue Springs, MO, Term 2022
Tim McClellan, ‘88, Kingsville, MO, Term 2022
Eric Campbell, ‘97, Kansas City, MO, Term 2026
Anand Mehta, ‘75, Lilburn, GA, Term 2023
Peter Carmack, ‘93, Lee’s Summit, MO, Term 2020
Mike Orndorff, ‘85, Overland Park, KS, Term 2024
Wade Carpenter, ‘89, Leawood, KS, Term 2020
Richard Phillips, ‘65, ‘67, ‘72, Lake Tapawingo, MO, Term 2022
Mike Davidson, ‘78, Osage Beach, MO, Term 2024
Randy Rahe, ‘77, St. Johns, FL, Term 2024
Diane Dudley, ‘81, Higginsville, MO, Term 2022
Jessica Ramirez, ‘99, ‘07, Blue Springs, MO, Term 2021
Linnette Garber, ‘74, Fayetteville, AR, Term 2019
Ronald Roby, ‘77, St. Louis, MO, Term 2025
Mike Hanna, ‘87, Warrensburg, MO, Term 2021
Keith Schreiman, ‘73, Overland Park, KS, Term 2025
Kelly Harbert, ‘86, Bloomington, IL, Term 2023
Mark Schupp, ‘78, St. Louis, MO, Term 2022
Michael Harding, ‘73, Tomball, TX, Term 2025
Scott Taylor, ‘89, Mequon, WI, Term 2022
Jim Hatfield, ‘80, Paradise Valley, AZ, Term 2022
Ron Umphenour, ‘76, Bridgewater, NJ, Term 2022
Homer Kay, ‘78, Kansas City, MO, Term 2026
Linda Wade, ‘70, ‘80, Camdenton, MO, Term 2020
Ken Kempker, ‘86, Plano, TX, Term 2026
Bill Westhoff, ‘69, Plymouth, MN, Term 2023
Leslie Krasner, ‘78, New York, NY, Term 2024
M E S S A G E S F R O M T H E A L U M N I F O U N D AT I O N The past year at the University of Central Missouri was marked by change — change from the top to the bottom. President Charles Ambrose announced he was leaving UCM in June after eight years of faithful service to assume a new role as president and CEO of KnowledgeWorks, a nationally recognized innovator in education for students of all ages. His role was assumed by Dr. Roger Best, a longtime UCM faculty member and administrator who is well-known and admired by the local community. As part of the university’s restructuring process, many departments were merged into schools, resulting in new combinations of majors and greater flexibility for students. The university as a whole became leaner and more able to respond to some of the recent changes in higher education. There also were changes in the Office of University Advancement and the UCM Alumni Foundation. Plenty of new faces appeared as the office filled several vacancies. Alumni relations and the annual fund have been given new emphasis, and the deans of each college have been pleased to find a development officer once again dedicated to them. These changes are designed to enhance the Alumni Foundation’s ability to achieve its goals of providing more help for UCM. During all this time of change, however, the value of giving has not changed. We continue to impact student lives through scholarship support. Alumni, friends and the Alumni Foundation Board of Directors continue to make gifts that not only enrich the lives of students, but also provide faculty support and program growth. We can’t begin to sufficiently thank all of you who have so generously given this year to allow the University of Central Missouri to grow and provide a quality education for this and future generations of graduates. Proudly Providing Opportunity,
Bill Estes, Ed.D. Interim Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director, UCM Alumni Foundation
It is an honor and pleasure to serve as the president of the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation Board for 2018–2019. As I write this message, I reflect on the many changes at this university from the time I graduated in 1981, from what was then Central Missouri State University. There are quite a number of changes in facilities, including the James C. Kirkpatrick Library; The Crossing, an upscale dormitory and shops; upgrades to the golf course, football stadium and baseball complex; and more. Many of these investments were made possible through donations and endowments over the years, and help to recruit quality faculty and students. Some things haven’t changed — for example, despite significant state funding cuts to higher education, enrollment continues to be strong, and UCM remains one of the most affordable universities in the Midwest! If you have not been on the UCM campus lately, you really should come for a visit. A walk through the Elliott Student Union will bring back many memories, and you’ll see lots of improvements there too. Of particular note is the new Success Advising Center on the lower level, which opened in September 2018 with state-of-the art counseling facilities for student mentoring, designed to increase retention and graduation rates. The Alumni Foundation Board of Directors works directly with the professional UCM Alumni Foundation staff to promote programs that raise funds, manage endowments through long-term investments and distribute funds through student scholarships as well as support to university programs and services. As you may be aware, there have been a lot of personnel changes at the university, including in our Alumni Foundation office. We have been actively rebuilding our staff and are excited about the direction we are heading and the momentum that is building. As of June 30, 2018, our total assets reached $58,760,045, the largest in our history. Over the past five years, the UCM Alumni Foundation has contributed more than $20 million to support the university. In the year ending June 30, 2018, we provided more than $1.3 million in scholarships, and about $1.7 million in academic and institutional support. All of this is possible because of the strong support of UCM alumni and the community. With your ongoing help, we can make our great university even better and continue to support student success! Thank You, and Go Mules and Jennies!
Diane Dudley, ‘81 President, UCM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors
W E S T H O F F FA M I LY F E L L O W S H I P
Westhoff Family Fellowship Turns UCM Undergraduate Students into CEOs By Jacalyn Leake
From left: Harmandeep Chahal, Bill Westhoff and Austin Miller
ne of the most daunting tasks college students face after graduation is getting a job, and a common obstacle when it comes to that task is the lack of experience recent graduates have on their resumes. At UCM, the Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship — made possible by the generous donations of William, ’69, and Ruth, ’68, Westhoff — is helping students gain that much-needed experience when it comes to business and finance.
O
When asked about his reasons for funding the Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship, Bill Westhoff talked about how he originally planned
to leave a bequest to UCM, but instead decided to become personally involved. “Being able to see the benefits of who receives the money and build a relationship with them—it’s a lot more fun than trying to come back from the grave and do it,” Westhoff explained. “It gives me great enjoyment to see their success.” The application for a Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship has several prerequisites when it comes to education and experience, such as having completed Bloomberg training, taken multiple courses, and been involved in specific organizations. The hefty list of requirements comes with good reason
— because those are the experiences the fellowship recipient needs to be successful as the chief executive officer of the Student Managed Investment Fund. That’s right, the student who lands the fellowship also secures the job title of CEO of the Student Managed Investment Fund, along with some amazing realworld experience toward a successful career after they graduate from UCM. The Student Managed Investment Fund is, in and of itself, an incredible hands-on learning opportunity for UCM students. It gives students professionallevel experience in stock analysis and asset valuation. First funded in 2013, the fund value has increased from
$500,000 to $750,000, and for the five years since its creation, the fund has been instrumental in helping introduce undergraduate UCM students to the technology used in the arena of financial data and news. Most of the student experience and learning about finance has taken place in the Donn G. Forbes Center for Financial Services, which serves as the operating room for the Student Managed Investment Fund. The center, a gift from Donn Forbes, ‘52, provides a state-of-the-art facility stocked with the most advanced finance technology, including 12 Bloomberg Professional Service terminals. Bloomberg Professional Service terminals are the industry-leading platform for news data, analytical tools and research. The Forbes Center’s professional financial investment setting also includes LED ticker displays that stream stock quotes and updated information about the performance of financial markets. These factors help provide UCM students with handson experiences employers seek when it comes to business and finance. Two students who have taken full advantage of this experience are Austin Miller and Harmandeep Chahal. Miller served as the Student Managed Investment Fund CEO in 2017, and Chahal is in the position this year. Both students have incredible stories to tell when it comes to their experiences with the Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship and the Student Managed Investment Fund. Chahal said family circumstances made a career in business and finance the obvious choice. “I chose business as my major because my family owned a business, and it’s something that I was always interested in,” he noted. “I chose finance, more specifically, because I had influence from my uncle, who is in corporate finance.” Despite these favorable life factors, Chahal recognizes that he did not have any real know-how for finance until he got to UCM.
“I didn’t know anything at all about corporate finance when I started college at UCM,” Chahal said. “Everything I know now is from what I learned at UCM.”
the Student Managed Investment Fund came with a lot of responsibility because we treated the class like an asset management firm.”
Miller is currently a graduate student pursuing his Master of Business Administration in finance at UCM, and has a similar background story. “My family has owned their business for more than 50 years,” he said. “Entrepreneurship has always been in my family, and that inspired me to focus on business. Finance eventually became what I was most interested in. The idea of helping others financially really appealed to me.”
The Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship is one more amazing way that UCM alumni are making significant positive impacts for current UCM students as well as the future of Mule Nation.
“ My education at UCM has helped me gain a real-world understanding of how businesses operate and interact on a macro and micro level.“ – Austin Miller
Like Chahal, Miller said he can look back and recognize how little he knew about business and finance before he came to UCM. “My basic understanding of finance prior to UCM was that you could help others manipulate money into achieving financial goals through investments, banking and lending,” Miller recalled. “After taking some lower-level finance classes, I found finance to include much more than I thought before.” In addition to coursework, Miller credits the real-world experiences and opportunities he has had as a student at UCM’s Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies as having significant impact on his professional development. Those experiences and opportunities include the Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship and Student Managed Investment Fund. “My education at UCM has helped me gain a real-world understanding of how businesses operate and interact on a macro and micro level,” Miller said. “Serving as the CEO of
“I think the alumni can make a big difference,” Westhoff said. “We have close to 100,000 alumni, and 3,000 of them are giving on a regular basis, so we have a huge untapped potential. If you become involved and you see the students and you see all the efforts that are made and being invested in student success, then you say, ‘Hey, I want to be part of that.’”
The results of the Westhoff Family Undergraduate Fellowship and the Student Managed Investment Fund can be seen in the promising careers UCM graduates have found and future graduates are looking forward to. For example, Chahal already has exciting prospects and solid post-graduation plans. “I did an internship at the KC Federal Reserve and got a job offer from them as well,” Chahal said. “I’ll start my career with them right out of college.” Miller is confident his experience with the fellowship and fund will be an important factor in his career. “It was a great experience,” Miller said. “I think those hands-on work-like experiences and leadership positions will pay huge dividends in future jobs.”
U N I V E R S I T Y A D VA N C E M E N T A N D U C M A L U M N I F O U N D AT I O N S TA F F
Front row, left to right: Peggy Shaul, Shelly Bachus, Courtney Goddard, Jamie Jennings, Joy Mistele, Jessica Rhodes Back row, left to right: Judith Raub, Jackie Jackson, Susan Denham, Patrick Pendergast, Lucy Vickers, Leslie High, Patricia Smithson Not appearing in the photograph: Karolyn Dreiling, Bill Estes, Britni Hume, Christy Mitchell Bill Estes, Ed.D. Interim Vice President for University Advancement, Executive Director, Alumni Foundation Courtney Goddard, J.D. Associate Vice President for University Advancement, Director of Advancement Services Shelly Bachus Executive Assistant to Vice President for University Advancement, Donor Stewardship Officer Susan Denham Office Professional III Karolyn Dreiling Director of Development, College of Health, Science and Technology
Leslie High Director of Development, Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies and Corporate Relations Britni Hume, ‘15, ‘18 Donor Services Coordinator Jackie Jackson, ‘09, ‘12 Director of Annual Giving Jamie Jennings, ‘03, ‘16 Executive Director of Alumni Relations
Patrick Pendergast Prospect Management and Research Manager Judith Raub, ‘05 Advancement Services Manager Jessica Rhodes, ‘16 Director of Development, College of Education Peggy Shaul, ‘91 Foundation Accountant
Joy Mistele, ‘76, ‘83 Senior Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving
Patricia Smithson Director of Development, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
Christy Mitchell, ‘16, ‘18 Advancement Services Specialist
Lucy Vickers Gift Processor
B A R K AY M C K I L L I P S C H O L A R S H I P
BarKay McKillip Scholarship Helps Rural Young Women Afford College By Jacalyn Leake
A
nyone who has traveled on Route 66 might have made a detour through Cuba — not the Northern Caribbean island, but a small rural town in Crawford County, Mo., named after it. Cuba, Mo., lies just four miles east of a 42-foot-tall rocking chair, one of the famous highway’s roadside attractions. It was in this small-town community where sisters Barbara and Kathryn McKillip grew up. They left home to attend Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, where Kathryn, ’70, stayed true to her rural roots studying agriculture, and Barbara, ’73, delved into history. Today Barbara J. McKillip lives in Eugene, Ore., and Kathryn McKillip Thrift has settled in Dallas, but the sisters have never forgotten their hometown and have made a commitment to give other young women from Cuba the same opportunity they had to earn a degree from UCM. According to the latest census data, 33 percent of Cuba’s 3,300-plus residents live below the poverty line. Paying for college can be a serious challenge for students aspiring to earn a degree. Recognizing this need, the two sisters established a scholarship to give back to their community and pay their success forward. The BarKay McKillip Scholarship is an annual nonendowed scholarship available through the UCM Alumni Foundation with a preference for a young woman with a 3.0 or higher GPA who is a graduate of Crawford County R-II High School in Cuba. The scholarship is geared toward incoming freshmen or those transferring from a community or vocationaltechnical college or trade school.
So far, two students from Cuba have received the BarKay McKillip Scholarship — one an
“ The BarKay McKillip Scholarship was a huge privilege to receive and a relief considering I was paying for the majority of school myself. It took a lot of pressure off my first year of college.” – Cloe Workman incoming freshman, and one a transfer student from a local community college. Cloe Workman, who is now a junior at UCM majoring in interior design, was the first scholarship recipient. “The BarKay McKillip Scholarship was a huge privilege to receive and a relief considering I was paying for the majority of school myself,” Workman said. “It took a lot of pressure off my first year of college.” Tiffany Gruver, this year’s recipient, echoed that sentiment. She had saved up some money while working and attending classes at East Central College in Rolla and planned to work while continuing her education at
UCM. Even with this income, tuition was a major concern. “This scholarship will really help me,” said Gruver, who is majoring in elementary education. “I can’t tell you enough how much this means to me.” Barbara J. McKillip and Kathryn McKillip Thrift will never forget their small-town roots. By partnering with the UCM Alumni Foundation through this generous scholarship, the sisters are able to broaden the horizon of other young women who were raised in Cuba, sharing their success and making a positive impact one student at a time.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ALUMNI
Construction Management Alumni Hard at Work Fundraising and Creating Affinity Group By Jacalyn Leake
T
he Construction Management Alumni Advisory Board has been active in raising funds for construction management scholarships, capital improvements, technology, recruitment, faculty, the student group and more. Now there is another force in the field, the newly founded Construction Management Affinity Group, which will provide professional development for both current students and alumni. The alumni group, led by the efforts of Jason Schram, ’08, and Matt Osborne, ’04, has hosted three successful golf tournaments with proceeds netting more than $110,000 to secure funds for establishing two construction management endowments. Currently,
Photo credit: Storytime Aerial Photography
the scholarship endowment is at $35,000, and proceeds will be added each year until the goal of $130,000 is reached. The scholarship fund will make $5,000 available each year to support construction management students. The other endowment will be geared toward capital improvements for future facility upgrades and used to fund hardware, software, surveying tools, drones and other technology, as well as faculty seminars and continuing education. The Construction Management Alumni Advisory Board has exciting plans when it comes to funding recruitment activities for the program that would not normally be covered under UCM’s promotional
materials budget. Initial expenditures included a hospitality room at the Missouri School Counselor Association’s Annual Conference in November. Through these investments, the Construction Management Alumni Advisory Board is helping to ensure the continuation of a robust construction management program at UCM and many more generations of Mule Nation alumni in the field. The group is also helping to ensure continued funding for the Student Organization of Construction Managers (SOCM), which is an important contribution toward the success of UCM construction management students. “My leadership roles in SOCM and
Habitat for Humanity gave me the opportunity to manage students and prepare for real-life projects,” Paige Lafferty, ’13, said. “I am very pleased that I chose to attend the construction program at UCM. It was a great experience that prepared me for my career.” Kyle Larson, UCM’s construction management program coordinator, has seen many students move on to successful careers. Larson said he is contacted frequently by construction management firms in the greater Kansas City and St. Louis areas asking if the program has any graduates they can hire. “With the help of our alumni association we are actively trying to increase the number of our graduates to help supply the area’s constant demand for our construction management professionals,” Larson said. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, construction managers have an especially positive occupational outlook. The projected percentage increase in employment over the next decade is significantly higher than the average occupation’s growth rate. In addition, the median pay for construction managers is more than twice the average worker’s median annual wage. “With starting salaries in Missouri nearing $60,000 and potential for career
advancement, this is a great time to get a degree in construction management,” Larson said. The Bachelor of Science in construction management that students earn through UCM’s College of Health, Science and Technology includes the key services that influence both the details and the bigger picture with regard to construction projects, including: • Scheduling • Safety • Cost estimating • Design • Quality assurance • Value engineering • Commissioning • Construction inspection • Risk management
“By bringing together alumni and students who work in different parts of the construction management sector and in different positions, our group is in a unique position to contribute to its members’ professional development,” explained Schram, who currently serves as president of the Construction Management Advisory Board. The Construction Management Affinity Group is set to officially begin in spring 2019, and plans are already underway for a series of social and networking events. Schram said the group structure, meeting formats and group development goals will be hammered out in spring. While much about the Construction Management Affinity Group is still being worked out, Schram noted that one of the key purposes of the group will begin coming to fruition immediately.
• Facilitating communication between all team members on a project
“Most importantly, we will have the opportunity to network with people who have chosen careers within the construction management industry,” he said.
These are the areas the affinity group will be dedicated to connecting and helping both alumni and students in the construction management sector with, in addition to promoting general professional development.
Details about the group’s spring events are forthcoming, and anyone with interest in the group or fundraising opportunities may contact the UCM Alumni Foundation at 660-543-8000 or alumni@ucmo.edu.
• Coordinating and supervising all contractors and subcontractors
F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O N
Source of Gifts
Undergraduate Retention
In Fiscal Year 2018, the UCM Alumni Foundation received $4,877,874 in total gifts and pledges. Thank you to all of the generous alumni and friends who contributed.
Access to quality higher education is a major factor determining an individual’s lifetime earning potential and quality of life. Your gifts are ensuring that UCM students graduate, and the impact of scholarship gifts are apparent when looking at student retention and success rates.
FOUNDATIONS $216,324 – 4%
ESTATES, TRUSTS & PLANNED GIFTS $1,452,215 30%
OVERALL UNIVERSITY RETENTION RATES FRIENDS $1,409,974 29% ALUMNI $1,058,248 22%
69.9%
First-Time, Full-Time Students
63.1% First-Time, Full-Time, Pell-Eligible Students
RETENTION RATES FOR ALUMNI FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
CORPORATIONS $741,113 – 15%
(New Students, ‘17-’18)
Total Assets Your generosity in FY18 continued unabated, as did the hard work of the UCM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors and staff members who support your philanthropic endeavors. As of June 30, 2018, total assets under management stood at more than $58 million, which reflects a growth of 17.4% over the past five years.
82%
First-Time, Full-Time Students
88%
First-Time, Full-Time, Pell-Eligible Students
Total Assets
SUCCESS RATES
60mil 50mil
$58,760,045
0
$55,949,840
10mil
$51,968,638
20mil
$51,377,527
30mil
$50,072,155
40mil
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
998
Total Alumni Foundation scholarship students in the 2017-18 academic year
91%
of Alumni Foundation scholarship recipients either earned a UCM degree or were still enrolled for fall 2018
Endowment Market Value
Endowment Payout
The fundamental purpose of our endowment is to support the university’s core academic mission by supplying a growing source of scholarship and programmatic funding. Maintaining and growing the value of the endowment over time is critical to ensuring that a steady source of income from the endowment will maintain purchasing to provide the same benefit to Endowmentpower Market Value students in the future as it does today. 50mil 40mil
2018
Over the past five years, the market value of the endowments has seen a growth of 22%.
We receive statements every month fromPayout our investment managers, and Endowment
There are 520 endowment funds managed by the Alumni Foundation with a variety of designated purposes and restrictions. Approximately 94% of funds constitute true endowments or gifts restricted by donors to provide longterm funding for designated purposes. The remaining 6% represent monies or quasi-endowments the Alumni Foundation Board of Directors chooses to invest and treat as endowments.
1,200,000 900,000 600,000 300,000
0
Endowment Investment Allocation Asset classes comprising the endowment portfolio are essential for generating sustainable returns while managing risk. Active long-term investment returns are best produced by maintaining a consistent investment philosophy and process. The need to provide resources for current operations and preserve the purchasing power of assets dictates investment for high returns, causing the endowment Investment Allocation *CASH VALUE <1% ALTERNATIVE 8% $236,195 $3,004,758
1,500,000
$1,401,843
2017
$1,300,240
2016
$1,165,315
2015
$891,007
$42,590,183
2014
An endowment is accounted for using a unitized pool. Each individual endowment fund owns units in the pool, revalued at the end of each month. New endowments may enter the pool at month-end periods, using a month-end value of a unit. New endowments “buy into” and receive a certain number of units in the pool based on the amount invested and the value of a unit on the buy-in date. The minimum investment to create an endowment is $25,000.
$835,027
$40,125,195
0
$36,309,475
10mil
$37,190,481
20mil
$34,864,524
30mil
Managing endowment spending, a critical factor in maintaining value over time, is vested in the Investment Committee. Each year, the committee approves a level of spending based on a rolling 12-quarter average market, cushioning the payout from volatility in the financial markets. The committee exercises prudence in achieving a healthy balance between preserving long-term assets and spending for current operations.
using these statements, we calculate the current market value per share by dividing the total market value of the investment pool by the total number of shares. Every endowment in the pool owns shares, and once an endowment has been in the pool for a minimum of six months, it receives an annual payout. Using the spending rate approved by our Board of Directors, the payout is calculated and allocated based on the shares owned. The distribution is made to a corresponding expendable account used for the purpose specified by the donor. For FY18, $1,401,843 was approved for the payout.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Rate of Return Although our investment return of 7.67% for FY18 was 0.5% below our benchmark of 8.17%, our average annualized return since inception is 7.19%, outperforming our benchmark of 7.09%. Our goal is to manage endowment funds in a manner satisfying current needs while ensuring the same level of support is available for future generations. Preserving this intergenerational equity requires generating a rate of return sufficient to maintain the purchasing power of our endowment after taking into consideration annual distributions and the effects of inflation.
INTERNATIONAL EQUITIES 16% $6,459,235 FIXED INCOME
$10,892,754 27%
DOMESTIC EQUITIES $19,419,966 49%
to be biased toward equity. In addition, vulnerability to inflation further directs the endowment away from fixed income and toward equity investments. Over the long term, our absolute objective is to achieve a total return that meets or exceeds the university’s tuition inflation rate, plus the total spending rate. Our relative objective is to achieve a total return that meets or exceeds a combined benchmark of appropriate capital market indices.
S H A N N O N L . J I P S E N AV I AT I O N S C H O L A R S H I P
Alumna Fosters Aviation Success Through Multiple Gifts By Jacalyn Leake
C
aptain Shannon L. Jipsen, Anchorage, Ala., is an airline pilot, professional speaker, author and UCM alumna. She holds two degrees from the University of Central Missouri — a bachelor’s in business administration and marketing, ’87, and a master’s in aviation safety, ’88. She also has earned the Aviation Safety Certificate from the University of Southern California.
the School of Aviation to help acquire and maintain specialized equipment for use by students in the program as they prepare for a career in the field. As a seasoned professional speaker, Jipsen presents to many groups, such as women’s leadership conferences and fundraisers, Aviation Explorers, International General Aviation Safety Conference, Purdue University, Miami University, NTSB Air Cargo Safety Forum, fire department instructional conferences, and Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) conferences. She has been flying since 1986, and has served as a licensed airline pilot since 1991. She has been a flight instructor and has worked in the aviation safety and accident investigation industry since 1992 and with the ARFF working group since 1997. In addition, she has lobbied for change to federal aviation regulations in Washington, D.C.
Jipsen has been enriching the aviation education program at UCM not only by donating her personal time, but also through the Shannon L. Jipsen Aviation Scholarship. Jipsen currently flies a 747-400 and a 747-8F for a renowned cargo company, serves on the Advisory Board for the UCM School of Aviation, and helps educate and inspire future aviation professionals as a guest speaker in aviation classes at UCM. She has been enriching the aviation education program at UCM not only by donating her personal time, but also through the Shannon L. Jipsen Aviation Scholarship. This scholarship is available for students pursuing a degree in aviation to become a professional pilot, or for students pursuing a degree in aviation safety. Distributions from the scholarship are used to assist a student or students with expenses as they go through the academic program. Additionally, Jipsen understands funding needs beyond scholarship support and provides gift support to
Jipsen has had her story and experiences shared as features in the books “Conversations on Success” (2004), “True Pilot Stories” (2005) and “Women Who Fly: True Stories by Women Airline Pilots” (2018). Promoting positive change and success is clearly important to this aviation alumna. In keeping with the Mule Nation spirit and culture of giving, Jipsen plans to continue to pay it forward through a planned estate gift with the UCM Alumni Foundation. Her ongoing support and active participation translate into opportunities in action for UCM’s aviation students, paving the runway for success.
DUANE R. STERLING SCHOLARSHIP
Cybersecurity Graduate Student is Rotary Foundation’s Sterling Scholar By Jacalyn Leake
T
he Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has a motto of “Service Above Self.” This year’s scholarship recipient, Sheethal Sangeeth Velamarthi, from Hyderabad, India, exemplifies this motto and is an ideal Sterling Scholar. The Duane R. Sterling Scholarship is available through the UCM Alumni Foundation in partnership with The Rotary Foundation. The goal of the scholarship is to increase the number of trained professionals working in developing and emerging countries. The scholarship covers a year of college for an undergraduate or graduate student admitted to UCM as an incoming or current full-time, degree-seeking student in any field of study. Velamarthi is pursuing a Master of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance and has led initiatives and designed program material toward raising awareness of cyber and information security risks. Velamarthi has been active in support of schooling for underprivileged children and education for young girls, planting trees to beautify her city and promoting cultural programs within her community. Dr. Sterling’s scholarship was established through a gift to The Rotary Foundation from Lynn Harmon, a businessman from Warrensburg, Mo. Sterling, who spent several years in The Rotary Foundation leadership and 32 years at UCM, has a rich and diverse background. His military service in Germany and his community service for the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce helped develop a strong belief in supporting education and international causes. “Duane Sterling exemplifies the mission of Rotary International, which is to bring the people of the world together for the benefit of all,”
Harmon said. “His commitment to UCM and the principles of Rotary has created many opportunities for young people.”
“ While professionally I look to work with organizations to protect themselves against cyber threats, I find a stronger desire and greater need to work with those vulnerable.”
– Sheethal Sangeeth Velamarthi
Having already completed an undergraduate degree in computer science and a graduate degree in business administration, Velamarthi is pursuing another master’s degree because she perceives a need for developing education and programs around cyber and information security. This is especially important, she said, when it comes to those who do not have the understanding or ability to protect themselves in the midst of increasingly sophisticated technology. “While professionally I look to work with organizations to protect themselves against cyber threats, I find a stronger desire and greater need to work with those vulnerable, particularly the young and the elderly,” she explained. Velamarthi said she has plans to create awareness campaigns in schools and organizations for youth and the elderly, who are disproportionately at risk when it comes to being victims of cyber crimes.
“I also intend to use my expertise to be able to proactively identify young children who can be easily exploited online and work closely with them to protect them,” she said. “This, in my view, will be the greatest service I could do the society we live in today and is as important, if not more, than my own professional aspirations.” While at UCM, Velamarthi will participate in many experiences as a Sterling Scholar. These include visiting the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, the Johnson County Historical Society Library, the boyhood home of Dr. Sterling in California, Mo., the Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City and the World Headquarters of Rotary International in Evanston, Ill. She will also be attending a Rotary District 6080 conference and presenting a program to Rotary District 6080.
BASEBALL AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
UCM Alumna Supports Student Success By Jacalyn Leake
P
eggy Palmer, ‘51, is a huge sports fan and enjoys all UCM athletics, especially baseball. Her love of baseball began in her childhood, and she has many fond memories of learning to keep score while attending games with her father. Even now, the first pages she reads in The Kansas City Star are always the sports pages. It was perhaps her interest in scorekeeping at baseball games in her youth that led Palmer to earn her degree in mathematics from Central Missouri State College in 1951. While at UCM she took 40 hours of math classes (the maximum the university offered) and credits her education for her successful 24-year career in actuarial management and in computer programming with Business Men’s Assurance (BMA) Company in Kansas City, Mo. Peggy Palmer pictured with Mules Baseball Head Coach Kyle Crookes and Assistant Coach Alex Backhaus
Whichever came first, Palmer has remained true to her two passions of sports and mathematics, establishing two scholarship endowments to support current students in these fields. The UCM Baseball Scholarship, established in June 2012, and the Peggy Taylor Palmer Actuarial Science Scholarship Endowment, established in November 2016, are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
In addition to these scholarships, Palmer has provided financial support for the Hendricks Hall Renovation project and the Crane Stadium Expansion project, a $3M fundraising effort to upgrade and expand UCM’s baseball facilities for the benefit of both the award-winning Mules Baseball team and their fans. Palmer takes great pride in her alma mater’s team, which is one of the top NCAA Division II teams in the country, having won the NCAA National Championship twice (1994 and 2003) and finished second in the 2001 NCAA Division II College World Series. The Mules also won the NCAA Regional Championships 17 times, including a dynasty of six consecutive championships from 2000 to 2005, and dominated MIAA baseball, earning 26 conference championship crowns. Palmer is a fan of both sports and academics at UCM, and her involvement and investment in the university over the years was spurred, in part, by her great respect and appreciation for Claude Brown, a UCM professor and mentor during her time as a student and throughout her career. He provided a solid foundation that led to her success.
Palmer said she believes that strong academic programs and successful students typically result from interactions with professors who set high expectations “These two scholarships and are dedicated to both their subject reinforce my desire to and their students. The scholarships she make a difference in has established provide opportunities for the lives of students these meaningful interactions. today as they attend the University of Central Palmer’s generosity ensures that future Missouri,” Palmer said. generations of students will have access “I had a great support to the support they need to become group of family, friends strong athletes, students and members and faculty members of the community. Most importantly, that were generous in they will have the opportunity to pursue many ways throughout their passion, just as Palmer has done my life. I am pleased to provide this throughout her life — beginning with scholarship support to students in two those childhood trips to the ballpark of the areas that are important and with her father. Rest assured, she’s still meaningful to me.” keeping score.
“ These two scholarships reinforce my desire to make a difference in the lives of students today as they attend the University of Central Missouri.” – Peggy Palmer, ‘51
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS The UCM Alumni Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our donors through inclusion in the annual Honor Roll of Donors. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included here (gifts received July 1, 2017 — June 30, 2018) is accurate and reflects the wishes of the donor. If you note an error or omission, please accept our sincere apologies and inform us at 660-543-8000 or giving@ucmo.edu so that we may correct our records.
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $25,000 + Aesops Inc. Burg Properties, LLC Dee Coleman Jim Crane Crane Family Foundation Sherralyn Craven* Mike and Patti Davidson Diane and Charles Dudley Educational Foundation of the Missouri Society of CPA’s Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Lynn and Jackie Harmon Jim and Alma Lee Hooker Shannon Jipsen Yvette and Doug Kinney The Kinney Family Foundation Inc. James and Esther Koop Lambda Pi Zeta Alumni Chapter Casey and Jessica Lund Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority Peggy Palmer Pepsi Beverages Company Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists Inc. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary Int’l Kali and Larry Schnieders Keith and Sammy Schreiman Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates Warrensburg Collision Repair Center Bill and Ruth Westhoff William N. and Ruth M. Westhoff Family Foundation Bunky and Janet Wright Alice and Chang Yim Anonymous (3)
SCHOLARS SOCIETY $10,000–$24,999 Sarah Bailey Board of Certified Safety Professionals Libby Burdsall Bill and Gina Carlyle Carlyle Van Lines Inc. Columbia Daily Tribune D & H Media, LLC Sonya Davenport Spencer C. Duncan Make It Count Foundation Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Donn Forbes Donald E. and Mary Frances Hayden Foundation Noel Fulkerson Home Builders Association Doris Houx Kirkpatrick* John and Sally Hudnall Inside Columbia Magazine KBIA NPR Radio Don Kelsey KPMG Foundation Arthur Kurth and Sue Parsons-Kurth McCown Gordon Construction, LLC Missouri Life Inc. Missouri Symphony Society Darrell and Mary Pankratz Wayne Payne Rockin’ Bubbles Warrensburg, LLC Martin and Laura Ross Royall & Company Bob Russell Randy Russell Steve and Vicki Swigert Truman Heartland Community Foundation Western Missouri Medical Center Gus Wetzel Family Foundation
Susie and Gus Wetzel Diane and Barry Whitworth Anonymous (5)
RED AND BLACK SOCIETY $5,000–$9,999 Aramco Services Company Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre Marlena and Doug Bennett Black & Veatch Building a World of Difference Foundation Sueann Carter Central Bank of Warrensburg Chelsoft Solutions Co. Community Foundation of Central Missouri Community Foundation of the Ozarks Janet Cooper Country Kitchen Restaurant Robin and Jan Crouch Larry and Mary Dobson Equity Bank – Warrensburg Equity Bank – Wichita F & C Bank Randy and Linnette Garber Andy Gelbach Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund Gould Evans Associates, LLC Hayden Liberty Center Assoc. for the Arts Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. Bob and Melinda Horn Sharrel and James Houx Jerry and Vici Hughes Integrity Treats, LLC (DQ Grill & Chill) J. W. Franklin Company Nancy Jones Ken and Kim Kempker Jo Lynne Koehn and Pamela Maben Steve and Ann Lacey Dan and Nancy Mainard Vince and Lana Marchetti *Deceased
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS Red and Black Society continued Paul and Janice Martin Martin Metal, LLC Virginia Maxson Jamie and Kim McAtee Mortallaro Enterprises Inc. Mike and Rhonda Orndorff Dan and Shirley Power Randy and Nola Rahe Randall Arthur Russell Enterprises, LLC Matt and Julie Roberts Joe Roop Tim and Liz Rotert Scottish Rite Valley of Columbia, Mo. Sherman Family Foundation Bob Shoemaker Chuck and Araly Simmons Cindy Squire and Neal Meyer Jennifer Stanfield State Farm Companies Foundation Richard and Phyllis Steckel Summit Pizza Inc. Sunrise Buildings, LLC Rick and Lisa Swisher Ernest and Harriet Thomas Trust Vanguard Charitable Versailles Tool Barn, LLC Visionworks Marketing & Communications Randall Washburn Blaine Whitworth Go Big or Go Home Foundation Woods Supermarket Inc., Store 2489 Yeager’s Cycle Sales Inc. Anonymous (2)
1871 SOCIETY $1,000–$4,999 Steve and Cathy Abney Gary and DeAnn Abram Tina Adams Agrivision, LLC Alewels Country Meats Lyle and Annie Alexander Allied Construction Services Inc. Chuck and Kris Ambrose
American Century Investments Foundation American Family Mutual Insurance Company Kathy Anderson Dorothy and Dennis Anderson Andrew J. Gelbach Professional Corp. Annex Development of Warrensburg, LLC Jim Appleberry Roger Arwood Atkins Inc. Sami and Noor Babrakzai Sheryl and Gordon Bachus Roger and Connie Baldwin Darin Baldwin Geraldine Barnes Barrier Technologies Shari and Matt Bax Carla Bergstrom Bill and Barbara Berrier Norm Betz Jim and Trina Biermann Terry Biggins Bi-Lo Country Mart BJC HealthCare BKD, LLP Black & Veatch Al Blankenship Randy and Lori Bledsoe Steve Bloess Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Delbert and Joan Bodenhamer Kathleen Boggs E. K. Boughton Boyer & Corporon Wealth Mgmt. Linda and Steve Brace Patrick and Terri Bradley Brady Commerce Park, LLC Sue and Steven Brammer Alan Brandt Arnold Bray and Alane Gordon-Bray Virgil and Barbara Breitmeyer Bill and Kathy Brewster Brothers From Another Mother Entertainment, LLC Elaine and Bob Browning Buffalo Wild Wings of Warrensburg Builders’ Association Education and Training Center
Dolores and Morris Burger Joe and Ruth Burke Burns & McDonnell Inc. Dale and Barb Carder Larry Case Phillip and Tracy Castleberry Central Bank of St. Louis Central Missouri Community Credit Union Centric Projects, LLC CEV Warrensburg, LLC (Campus Evolution Village) Change Jarr, LLC Dudley and Paula Chapman Bob and Barbara Churchill Bernie and Susan Clark Jonathan Cleveland Cleveland Design Inc. Irv and Sandra Cockriel Steven Cockriel Edward Coe Russ and Alice Coleman Seth and Becca Collins Commonwealth Charitable Fund Coons Foundation Curtis and Lillian Cooper Cowley Distributing Inc. Sarah Craig Sue Crouch G. B. Crump John Culp and Cathy McGraw Culp Theresa and Lanny Curnes Brenda Curry Deborah and Lynn Curtis Myra and David Dallas Gerry D’Angelo Sharon and Allen Daugherty Holly Davenport and Trent White Barry and Charity Davis Charissa and Scott Davis Tom and Jennifer Deer Dell Inc. Vance and Loree DeLozier Delta Innovative Services Inc. Design Supply Galen Dody Dody Legacy Group Tim and Jennifer Doke Ray and Katherine Dowell E. M. Burger
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 1871 Society continued Memorial Foundation Ear, Nose and Throat/Plastic Surgery of Warrensburg, P.C. Randy Eckert Judy Edmunds Edwin V. & Louise Perdue Scholarship Trust Jack Elfrink Sandra and Ed Elliott El-Par Farms Inc. Emery Sapp & Sons Inc. – Kansas City Bob and Amie Etters ExxonMobil Foundation David Ezell Faith Technologies Inc. Sandy Falloon Terry and Louise Farmer Connie Fenton-Smith and Dennis Smith Larry and Paulette Fick Stacey and Holly Fitterer Ron Fox Willie and Susan Fritz Carolyn Fuller Kathleen Fults Dan Fults* Jim and Marsha Gai Garney Companies Inc. Ted and Mary Garten Gastinger and Walker Architects Inc. Pete and Susan Gencarelli Milton and Jean Genge Finley and Patty Gibbs Delia Gillis Gladbach Farms, LLC Karen Gonzalez Joe and Kelley Good Good Sheperd Nursing Home District Great Clips Daniel and Lorraine Halter Bill and Bette Hampton David Handly Robert and Lauren Hankins Mike Hanna Mike Harding and Carlotta Franklin-Harding Ann Harris Leah and Cliff Harris HD Lawn & Landscaping, LLC Michael and Jo Ann Heembrock
Katherine Hefner Henderson Engineers Inc. Heroes Restaurant & Pub Brad and Kay Hewitt Sherri and Craig Hibdon Walt and Lynn Hicklin Norma Highlander Billy and Geraldine Hill HOK Group Inc. Holmes Drywall Supply Inc. Sarah and Joseph Holsinger Denny and Michelle Hoskins Thomas and Sharon Hoskins Dee and Jim Hudson Husch Blackwell, LLP – Kansas City Dale and Joetta Hutchings Monty and Mary Hutchison Insurance Associates of Johnson County Ironstone Contracting, LLC Isleworth Partners Inc. ITW Illinois Tool Works Inc. Jon and Melissa Jacobs Steve Jenne Johannesmeyer & Associates, LLC John Zey and Alice Greife Wayne and Beverly Johnson Kenneth and Betty Johnson Bill and Linda Johnson Johnson & Johnson Matching Gift Mike Jones Claude and Dorothy Jones Mark and Cathie Jones Kathryn and Clem Thrift Larry and Louise Keisker Mike and Karen Keith Pamela and James Kelly Kelly Construction Group Inc. Doug and Kristi Kenney KETC Channel 9 Kiewit Corporation Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy Tom King Herman and Patty Kirkpatrick Janice Koch Chris and Rachel Krick Larry and Shirley Kruse Lankford Fendler and Associates Debbie Larson Laura Slay and Associates David Lawson
Mark and Pat Leicht Drew and Julie Lewis Mark and Lynne Lewis Jared Lewis The Light Foundation Lindy and Jim Loch Shawn and Judy Long Matt and Ashley Lotspeich Amanda and Jake Lotspeich Lotspeich Automotive Inc. Warren and Marilyn Lovinger Steve and Andrea Luebbert Janet Mackin Adam Maddox Michael and Patricia Manners Martin Structures Mazzios, LLC Diane McCain McCarthy Holdings Inc. Leslie McClure Krasner and Robert Krasner Mary McCord The McCortney Foundation McDonald’s-Marshalls Inc. Brian McInerney Wanda McKinnis Rixio Medina Mega Industries Corporation Jerry and Karen Meisenheimer Jay and Traci Meldrem Roland Meyer Meyer Music Company MFA Oil Company Mid-America Sports Construction Mike Keith Insurance Inc. Sue and J.O. Miller Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation Doug and Laura Mitchell Monahan Enterprises 2446, LLC Ryan Morehead Steve and Terri Morrow Nicholas and Janell Mortallaro Walt Moser Murdock Banner Financial Group MW Builders Inc. Franklin and Eileen Myers Susie Mysiewicz Nancy Langworthy and Harry Feirman Next to Nature Landscape, LLC Hien and Emily Nguyen
*Deceased
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 1871 Society continued Nigro’s Western Store 1 Inc. David and Dianna O’Brien David Offerdahl Dean Ohmart Charles and Ashley Olaiya Betty and Ken O’Neal Orion Management Solutions Inc. Orscheln Industries Foundation Donald and Rosemary Osborn Pam and Chuck Owings Ozark Fire Sprinkler Co. Inc. P1 Group Inc. Papa Johns International Inc. Papa Johns – Warrensburg Paramount Apparel International Inc. Rob and Jacklyn Park David Pecha Pecha Family Foundation Toni and David Peerbolte Performance Contracting Group Phelps Engineering Inc. Richard and Charlotte Phillips Jim and Linda Piatt Mike and JoAnn Pipkin Players Restaurant Lounge Keith and Regina Province Ethan Putman Don and Fran Putnam Quarry City Savings & Loan Association R/S Electric Corp Rainbow Construction Underground Utilities, LLC Mike Ramey Richard Ramos RAR Enterprises, LLC Raytown Educational Foundation Robert and Jennifer Reasbeck Kenny and Suzanne Reasbeck Jan Reding Reed & Sons Jewelers Regents Flooring Bob and Libby Reid REW Materials Janet Rhyne Rib Crib BBQ & Grill of Warrensburg Lorenz and Lisa Richter Don and Bobbie Riffle
Robert and Edith Young Family Foundation Robert Rollings Architects, LLC The Roberts Group Ronald Roby Stu and Teera Rogers Jack and Christine Rogers Beverly and Rob Rollings John and Cynthia* Romito Joe and Lisa Roos Mark and Jeniffer Rubenstein Aaron and Catherine Rupp Rob and Susie Ruth Charlie and Beth Rutt Mac and Elaine Salazar Nancy Samp Heather and Richie Sanders Carmen and Chris Sandor Satin Stitches Gabriel Savage and Alexandra Schaffer-Savage Scholastic Inc. Karen Schultz and Robert Cauffield Jay Schutte Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Homes Matt and Melinda Sergent Gaila Shaffer Lemuel Shattuck David and Jacqui Sheehan Shelby Property, LLC Kyle Shell Shelter Insurance Foundation Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation Jan and Sam Sloan Stacy and Scott Snoble Sodexo Foundation Inc. Sonic Drive-In of Warrensburg Spectrum Paint Co. St. John & Partners David Stagg Cindy Stahl Stahon Enterprises, LLC State Farm Insurance Companies State Farm Insurance – Dale Zank Agency State Farm Insurance – Joe Good Agency State Street Matching Gift Program Steak ‘n Shake of Warrensburg at UCM Union Ronnie and Candy Stephens Marc and Beverly Stevener
Marlene Stewart Larry and Linda Strait Scott and Karen Strohmeyer Superior Bowen Asphalt Co., LLC Tallman Company of Sedalia Scott and Christine Taylor Christopher and Heather Taylor Teague Electric Construction Inc. Marjorie Thompson Greg Thurman Steve and Lana Thurmon TIC – The Industrial Company TMS Inc. Selden and Joyce Trimble Truck Country, LLC Wesley and Marilyn True True Blewe Yarns & More True/False Film Festival Yolanda and Stanton Trueheart Truman Title Inc. – Warrensburg UCM Panhellenic Council Ron and Ann Umphenour University Subaru US Bank – UCM Facility Jenne Vanderbout and Doug Harris Vantrust Real Estate, LLC Pamela and Joseph Vap Viracor Eurofins John and Sally Virgo Kevin Visser W. K. Chevrolet Inc. Linda and Larry Wade Tara Wakefield Jarod Wall Julius Wall* Audrey Walton Warrensburg Chrysler Dodge Jeep, LLC Warrensburg Project Graduation Class of 2018 Warrensburg Rotary Club Gerald Wasleski Watson Dak, LLC (Zaxby’s) We Always Swing – Jazz Series Spencer Webb Mark and Jacqueline Wehrle Jesse and Jennifer West Western Missouri Title Company Kristi and Steve Westhead Ken and Kim Weymuth Jim and Val Whiteman
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 1871 Society continued Wholesale Plumbing Supply Co. Inc. Jerry and Darla Williams Jack Williams Susanne Wirth David Woltkamp Woodhaven Learning Center Jason Young and Tia Binder Lydia Yuan and Chia-Lung Hung Dale Zank and Virginia Kugel-Zank Anonymous (6)
DONORS IN ACTION $500–$999 A. L. Huber Inc. Marshall and Jessie Abney Mark and Carole Adams Guy and Jonna Albert Shirley and Don Albert Jennifer and William Aldrich Ken and Donna Allen Nick and JoCarol Allen American Family Insurance – Tony Sachs Valerie and David Anderson Joe and Renee Anthuis Terry Ard Awesome Blossoms, LLC Philip and Joyce Baker David Baker Ballpark Village Kimber Barnett Mike and Christi Beisner Bennett Packaging Glenn Borum Ryan Bowie Lindsey and Fred Branson Karen and Robert Breshears Steve and Karri Brier Norman and Wanda Brooks Jerry Brown Evelyn and Wallace Brown Mike Brown Sandi and Larry Bryan Bryant Motors Buller Construction Tyler Burgin Brian Campbell Sharon and Paul Campo Richard Carlson and Rebecca Gaughan Susan Carlyle
Peter and Cynthia Carmack Ernie and Iris Carpenter Keith and Sara Chapman Charitable Adult Rides & Services Inc. ClarkDietrich Building Systems, LLC Bill and Cathy Clay John and Kimberly Collier Mary Colvin Comfort Inn – Warrensburg County Distributing Company Karen and Robert Croce Ron and Linda Culp Richard Curtin Eric and Danielle Czerniewski Joe and Mary Dandurand John and Nancy David Dean Williamson Furniture Nick and Trish DeBiasse Janet Decker Dave and Donna DeFrain Clarence Diedriech Mike and Tena Duncan Marcus Dunham Robert and Linda Duren E3 Meat Company Enersys Energy Products Inc. Sue and Paul Engelmann Eyecare Specialties Inc. Ellen and Brian Fairchild Fairfield Inn & Suites of Warrensburg John and Sue Falzone Steven and Nicole Farr Gary and Connie Fennewald First Hand Foundation Fitterer’s, LLC (Fitter’s) Steve and Jennifer Fleming Fox Heating & Cooling, LLC Aubrey and Marilyn Fredericks Peter and Barbara Freeman Tammy and Jeffrey Gann Gecco Graphics Worldwide, LLC Gemba Academy, LLC Robert and Lois Gilham Charles and Mary Lou Gillilan Brett and Allison Ginn Drew Glover Jan and David Glover Mike Gomez Jeremy Goreham Jim and Linda Gray
Greater Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce Glenn and Barbara Haefner Jonathan Haile Homer and Marilyn Hampton Elizabeth Haney HarenLaughlin Construction Nikki Harmon Vincent Harrington Brandon Harrison Frank and Patricia Hays Tim and Susan Healey William Healey Gena and Craig Hill Cindy Holtwick Andrea Houseworth Monica and Jim Huffman Brian and Kathy Hughes Rondal and Laura Hunter Donald and Greta Hurley Integrity Roofing, LLC Malcolm Johnson Sheldon and Michele Jones James Jonson Carly and Mike Joyner K&G Striping Inc. KDKD KXEA Radio Carole Kennedy Ken and Carol Keth Dolores and Jay Kitterman Mike Knipper Aly and Andy Kowal Hal Krause Toni and Paul Kreke Gary and Lora Krizanich Richard and Alice Laatsch Bruce and Kim Lackey Cheryl and Don Leath Lee’s Summit Garden Club Katie and Brock Lewark Tyler Lieberman Donna Alexander and Linhart Regan and Tony Linville Robby Madden Master Gardeners of Johnson County, Mo. MBA Metal Framing Barbara and Samuel McClarney Todd McClure and Ginger Killian Jody and Susan McDanel Margery and Carl McElwee *Deceased
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS Donors in Action continued Joe McMenamin Tim and Melinda Mehaffy MFK Enterprises Inc. Nancy Miller Wil and Joy Mistele Stacy and Matt Morgan Morgan Farms Guy Morice Carol and Terry Noland Rebecca and Matt Norfleet Jean Nuernberger and Jerry Noernberg Janis Nuernberger Old Kinderhook Oppenheimer and Co. Inc. Jerry and Linda Osborn Maurice Painter Michael Parker Clyde and Judy Paul Robert Pearcy Kirk and Jill Pedersen PepsiCo Jeanie and David Peters Chad and Marci Pfister Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program Barbara Pfoertner Philip Flip Piontek Volleyball Schools, LLC Steve Phillips Bob and Ola Pierceall Dan and Kelly Plott Shirley and Bruce Prillaman Public Relations Student Society of America – UCM Chapter Kevin Prufer Bret and Lea Pummill Ed and Eileen Rathburn Michael Rau and Ruth Stockdill Maggie Reasbeck Reasbeck Construction Inc. Redhead Lakeside Grill Wayne and Mary Reinert Cheryl Riley Stephen and Dona Riley Michael and Susan Roberts David and Denise Robinson Rondal Hunter Construction Mark Rosewell Carl Rues Rulon International
Tom and Deborah Rybczyk Laura and Buzz Sampson James Sanders Ted Sarbaugh Paul and Dasi Schlup Chris and Julie Schnurbusch Dan and Michelle Schubert Michael Schultz Betty Schultze Mac Sebald Servpro of Lee’s Summit Mike and Pat Setser Kevin Seward Mary Ann Shaw Willie and Barbara Shipman Robert Singer Yvonne Skouby Scott and Andie Smith Staco Electric Construction Company State Farm Insurance – Wanda Skelton Agency Owen Straub Clint and Christina Steiner Darrel and Sharon Stephens Phyllis Stoecklein Joe Strada Jim and Sharon Strate Rhesa Sumrell and Peggy Martin Charles and Jan Swaney Q & R Enterprises Inc. (Swisher’s) James Taylor Molly and Brent Teichman Bobbie Tetley The Builder’s Association Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation David Ting and Ruth Li Josh Tomlinson Alan Tribble Brannon Troiani Nancy and Den Trumbull Todd and Sara Tumminia Bob Van Dyke Marjorie and Paul VanHorn Sheila and Kent Wade Barbara Walker Jeanette Welch Wells Fargo & Company Tiffanie Welte Doug Westphal
Kyle and Kelli Weymuth Rick and Annelle Weymuth Brenda Wheeler Joe and Lynne Wikoff Barbara and Bruce Williams Harold and Sharon Williams Dene Williamson Janice Wilson Anthony Winders Chris and Megan Wittgren Marion and Irma Woods Barbara Worman Anonymous (3)
HERITAGE SOCIETY NEW PLANNED GIFTS OR BEQUESTS RECEIVED FY18 Sarah R. Bailey Sherralyn Craven* Nelvada Dean* J. Edward and Minnie Dickerson* Ruth Yvonne Farlow* Kenneth and Marian Glazebrook* Doris Houx Kirkpatrick* Bill Kountz Shannon Jipsen Albert Landa* Serena and Robert Lannue* Carla J. Maltas* Jim and Joan Mansfield Linda Medaris* Robert and Jonna Merritt* Ruth Pace Chadwick* Margaret C. Palmer* Marion Ulrich* Ruth C. Walker* Lucy and John Lawrence Walkup* Ann Weaver* Elizabeth C. Weekly* Trust Jim Whitfield* Anonymous (1)
*Deceased
PLANNED GIVING
Future Thinking Now By Joy Mistele, ‘76, ‘83
ugenia Crain’s career as an educator provided her with opportunities to meet interesting people who encouraged her to explore new challenges. The professor emerita of accounting has made those same opportunities available to new generations of University of Central Missouri students by establishing the Stanley and Eugenia R. Crain Scholarship for undergraduate students in accounting. In addition to annual gift support, Crain has funded two charitable gift annuities that eventually will provide even greater financial resources for students.
E
A native of Sturgeon, Mo., Crain graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College and, after a number of career moves, took a position as an accountant in the financial affairs office at UCM. She was encouraged to teach a class in accounting, and it turned into a new career — preparing students for the business world. “My years at UCM were filled with wonderful friendships on campus and in Warrensburg,” she said. “I wanted to enable future students to share the same benefits I received at UCM. Those benefits included the counsel of teachers and administrators who worked hard to provide the leadership and service to enable quality education enjoyed by UCM students.” Everyone has the ability to give. Like Eugenia Crain, sharing your resources now and in the future helps more students succeed. “Education is important,” Crain stated. “It is important to support the schools that educate the American public. The success of our democracy depends on an educated public.”
Learn how you can help.
For more information about making a planned or blended gift to the UCM Alumni Foundation or to include a gift in your estate plans, contact Joy Mistele at 660-543-8000 or mistele@ucmo.edu.
THE GIFT OF SUCCESS
UCM Launches the Gift of Success In 2018, UCM launched the Gift of Success initiative, with the goal of raising $1 million in scholarships. This campaign asks for a commitment from our alumni to our students — a commitment that symbolizes a continued investment in the future of education and in their respective industries. By giving the Gift of Success, you will contribute directly to the Fund for Student Success, a fund dedicated to scholarships for our students, with the direct impact of furthering their opportunity to gain meaningful degrees.
Serving the Underserved Student Population At UCM, our purpose is simple — to serve students through access to quality education and provide the necessary individual support that each student requires based on his or her need. Currently, 64 percent of our students fall into one of three categories: first generation, Pell-eligible or from an underrepresented minority group. These students number not only among the fastest-growing population to seek a college degree, but also among those with the greatest need for financial support. For our students, the average financial obstacle to graduation is only $672. By giving the Gift of Success, you will directly impact change for these students through the financing of more scholarships to students facing this type of need.
Impacting Retention: Grow UCM for the Future The future of higher education is changing, and UCM is committed to setting a national standard for student retention. This combined goal between our faculty, staff, institution and alumni can only be achieved through the strategic allocation of the right resources to the right student at the right time. Our goal is simple — to achieve an 80 percent retention rate at UCM by providing every student with the individual support they need to stay on track. By providing this necessary scholarship aid to financially at-risk students at the right time, the Fund for Student Success will directly impact the ability for our academically capable and personally committed students to graduate on time and achieve their personal potential.
How to Give the Gift of Success: Online: ucmfoundation.org/give Phone: 660-543-8000 Mail: P.O. Box 800 Smiser Alumni Center Warrensburg, MO 64093
A L U M N I R E L AT I O N S
Alumni Relations Annual Update By Jamie Jennings, ‘03, ‘16
L
ooking back at a successful year and ahead to an even brighter future, we remain focused on one thing: Great alumni make a difference in the life of this university. Last year our alumni connected worldwide to impact student success. Several of our most notable successes include: • Engaging thousands of alumni and friends through Mule Nation regional events hosted by UCM alumni, our corporate partners, UCM Athletics and the UCM Alumni Foundation • Making a difference in the lives of many students through scholarships, mentorships, internships and travel experiences
our rich history. Alumni want to be connected to UCM for their personal and career enhancement. Many of our alumni are from legacy families who have ties with UCM as far back as they can remember. Some have made significant investments in the life of the university. If we can replicate this level of engagement with more of our alumni and truly engage them at a level that we have never seen before, we will see more UCM alumni sharing time, talent and treasure. We believe passionately in the UCM Alumni Foundation’s vision of empowering dreams that enable students to experience Opportunity in Action at UCM. We look forward to collaborating with alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the university to foster meaningful experiences for our 100,000 UCM alumni around the world.
Engagement channels include advocacy, service, philanthropy, loyalty and student success.
• Providing the opportunity to experience playing on a major league field, interacting with renowned musicians, trading in real time on the stock exchange and hearing the sound of their own instruments being played at Carnegie Hall
We look forward to building an enhanced alumni program that will align the UCM Alumni Foundation staff and board committees to better serve our alumni as well as our students. We plan to reinvigorate our Mule Nation chapter relationships in our established locations of Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas and Houston, while we lay the groundwork for expanding to several cities in Missouri and around the globe. In the coming year, we plan to offer programming within our engagement channels for our alumni to engage with us to the level that fits their individual needs. These channels include advocacy, service, philanthropy, loyalty and student success. Our alumni are proud of the education they received here at UCM and of
The dynamic advancement team is charged and ready to increase the interaction and connection between the university and alumni in order to create more opportunities that will contribute to our students' success. The initiatives and accomplishments highlighted in this report are made possible only through the involvement of our alumni. As we look forward to the year ahead, we invite you to be a part of the future that we are building here. Thank you for your support.
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