Worcester State Foundation - Worcester State University

Transcription

2016
Worcester State Foundation
June 9, 2016
Worcester State Foundation
2016 Annual Report
Change Lives Campaign
4
Major Gifts and Initiatives
Wellness Center
Adopt a Scholar
Reunion
Day of Giving
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6
7
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9
Academic Excellence
Scholarships
10
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Vibrant Campus Life, Civic Engagement,
Promoting Success
Engaging Students
Events
Strategic Initiatives
12
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17
Enrollment, Retention,
and Student Success
18
Helping to Ensure Financial Stability
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Worcester State Foundation 2016 Annual Report
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Foundation/Fundraising Activities
Fiscal Year 2016 continues to be a strong fundraising year for Worcester State University. We
have already exceeded our goal of $3 million in total money raised, with 3,640 donors giving
$3,028,373 as of June 1 with a month to go in the fiscal year.
We enter the final year of the $15 million Change Lives capital campaign in good shape, with 86
percent of the goal met. This fall, the opening of the new Wellness Center will generate new
levels of excitement and help us push strongly through to the end. Our donors do love a
challenge, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response to the challenge set forth by former
Foundation Board Director Gene J. DeFeudis to raised $250,000 for the Wellness Center by Dec.
31, 2015. Because of that challenge, more than a half million dollars was raised for that
initiative alone.
Other fundraising highlights included a strong Day of Giving on April 6, where we more than
doubled the goal of 300 gifts, with 649 donors giving 698 gifts for a total of more than $77,000.
Several new endowed scholarships were created, and the Education Department was named
for Barbara (Hickey) O’Brien ’57 in recognition of a generous gift of $300,000 from Robert K.
O’Brien ’58, a long-time generous WSU benefactor.
The Worcester State Foundation continues to support the University’s strategic initiatives
through the creation of funds and distribution of support for academic programs, faculty
research, student scholarships, research and internships. As of June 1, $1.3 million has been
transferred to WSU in support of scholarships, academic programs and campus initiatives.
Foundation Support
Scholarships and Awards
$19,768.00
$103,168.00
$407,067.00
Plant, Property, and
Equipment
Programs and Community
Involvement
$663,470.00
Faculty Support
$171,394.00
Real Estate
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Change Lives Campaign
As of June 1, the Change Lives campaign is at 86 percent of goal,
with $13 million of the $15 million goal raised as we enter the
final year of the 5-year campaign. To date, the Change Lives
campaign has raised:
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$4.8 million for Scholarships
$4.7 million for Academic Development
$1.7 million for Capital Projects & Equipment
$1.8 million for Mission Support
Worcester State Foundation Board Director and longstanding WSU
supporter Gene J. DeFeudis (at left) donated $250,000 to the Wellness
Center after more than 700 donors gave $319,000 to meet his challenge
by Dec. 31, 2015. Generous donors have already given $1.7 million to the
campaign’s $3 million goal for capital projects, with a significant portion of
that money coming from the DeFeudis challenge.
As an example of academic development support, Greater Worcester
Community Foundation’s Fairlawn Foundation renewed their support
with a second-year grant of $85,000 to expand the CHIPs In Action
partnership with Worcester’s Division of Public Health. This
interdisciplinary program uses faculty/student teams to conduct research and develop solutions
for priority health needs identified in the city’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
Phillip M. Wasylean II ’63 (at right) created a $10,000 challenge grant
that will match the first 100 gifts of $100 from graduates of the Classes of
2000 to 2015 in support of the Change Lives capital campaign. As of June
1, young alumni have met almost 70 percent of that goal. One of WSU’s
most generous benefactors, Wasylean has donated more than $1 million
to benefit students, especially for scholarships. He credits the preparation
he received at Worcester State Teachers College for giving him the
foundation to succeed in his 42-year teaching career.
Almost 100 alumni and friends enjoyed a benefit concert by
soprano Christina Luna and guest tenor Aaron Caruso (at left) on
Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Fuller Theater. A well-attended reception
preceded the concert. “To Italy, With Love: An Evening of Opera,
Broadway and Italian Songs” raised over $4,500 for the Change
Lives capital campaign, the largest amount ever raised for the
campaign in a single event.
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Major Gifts and Initiatives
Wellness Center
In spirit, enterprise, and ingenuity, the fundraising and construction initiatives for the new
Wellness Center were at the forefront for the University and the Advancement team
throughout FY16.
•
Spearheaded by former Foundation Board Director Gene J. DeFeudis, fundraising began in
earnest in 2016 with a challenge to the Worcester State community to raise $250,000 for
the center. If the challenge was met, Mr. DeFeudis would donate an additional $250,000 to
enhance the Wellness Center fundraising initiative. Throughout the year, as students and
campus members watched the building’s construction advances day by day, donors came
forward to join the challenge, realizing an additional $319,000 for the building.
•
Some of the major contributors to the effort include Trustee and Foundation Board
member George Albro and his wife, Lillian, both members of the Class of 1965, with a
$25,000 commitment toward the Hall of Fame Gallery and the naming of the George Albro
Lancer Room. This gift helped inspire 41 members of the Hall of Fame to also pledge and
contribute $11,000 for a total of $36,000 to go toward the Hall of Fame Gallery initiative.
•
The Fuller Foundation, one of the initial supporters and proponents of wellness at
Worcester State for students, including the construction and programming of a new center
for the campus, made the second installment of $100,000 toward their $300,000
commitment to the Wellness Center initiative.
•
Drs. Arthur and Martha Pappas, longtime friends and benefactors to health and wellness in
the greater community and to Worcester State University itself, invested $25,000 in the
initiative.
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•
The 15-40 Connection and founder James Coghlin and his wife,
Nancy, made a gift of $15,000 to brand the staircase in the fitness
center. The 15-40 Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to educating
youth and young adults about the early warning signs of cancer, has a
strong partnership with Worcester State through programming
managed by our Health Center and Student Activities.
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An outpouring of love and support from Worcester State community members and vendors
for the late Richard Korzec, a longtime WSU facilities staff member and WSU golf team
coach, enabled the creation and naming of the Richard R. Korzec Golf Simulator in the new
center with collective gifts totaling nearly $80,000. Among the supporters include Ricciardi
Bros., Renaud HVAC, Sunshine Sign, WT Rich, and Office Resources Inc. with gifts of
$10,000 each as well as Lamoureux Pagano & Assoc. with a contribution of $7,500.
Adopt a Scholar
Scholarships for students continue to be a prime focus for fundraising. Data provided by the
Enrollment Management division show that students who are scholarship recipients persist and
graduate at a greater rate than WSU students who don’t.
With the addition of the Adopt a Scholar program last year, donors have an opportunity to
support a student with an annual scholarship gift of $1,000 for four years for the same student.
Thirteen Adopt a Scholar scholarships were established last year, our first year of the program,
and an additional seven were created this year. Donors who have committed $4,000 over the
course of four years to the program in FY16 are: Barbara Kirklauskas ’64, M.Ed. ’67, Joe Pagano
and family, Thomas Halloran ’88, Robert Clark '67, Maryanne Hammond ’69, M.Ed. ’72, ‘77,
Paul Hammond ’76, M.Ed. ’79, and George ’65, M.Ed. ’68, and Lillian ’65, M.Ed. 78, Albro.
Individual Gifts
• With devotion and continued inspiration, Robert K. O’Brien ’58 made a most magnanimous
gift of $300,000 to enable the Department of Education at Worcester State University to be
named for his late beloved wife, Barbara (Hickey)
O’Brien, a 1957 graduate and a generous
benefactor of WSU during her life and beyond.
The O’Briens’ generosity will enable Worcester
State University’s Education Department to
provide no-cost programs to support our teacher
candidates as they prepare for the challenging
MTEL examinations.
Mr. O’Brien is also the brains behind the business
of entrepreneurship at Worcester State, funding the Robert K. O’Brien ’58 Next Big Idea
contest with a $10,000 gifts for the fourth year in a row, supporting a student business
competition that rewards the best plan with a cash prize.
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•
The Worcester Center for Crafts recently
honored Carol and James (Jim) Donnelly
by naming its library for them in
recognition of their longtime support and
service to the center. Carol Donnelly, a
professor and chair of Worcester State
University Education Department, served
as interim director of the Crafts Center
from 2008 to 2012. The library dedication
was made in recognition of the Donnellys
pledging a generous gift of more than
$50,000 to the center.
•
Santander Universities continues its partnership with Worcester State University with their
contribution to our study abroad programming with a gift of $35,000 for study abroad
scholarships. This in addition to an earlier gift of $10,000 to kick off the program. In this
year, 61 students benefitted from this partnership.
•
G.B. and Alexandria Singh ’85, made a generous $31,000 gift to support their pledge for the
naming of the nursing lab simulation center, as well as a $7,500 gift to support the Boca
Raton Alumni Chapter event.
•
Gregg ’86 and Pamela ’87 Rosen have generously endorsed our Day of Giving efforts, with a
three-year commitment to a $10,000 per year young alumni giving challenge, for a total gift
of $30,000, paid this year.
•
James and Sharon Ricciardi, long-time supporters of Worcester State, have established the
James and Sharon Family Endowed Scholarship for STEM. Jim Ricciardi is a former WSU
student who didn’t have the opportunity to finish college, but he remains actively involved
in the school’s life as both a vendor and donor.
•
Estelle H. Blake ’60, (at right) made a $25,000 gift to endow a scholarship
for an Urban Studies or Psychology student interested in pursuing a
career in a social services agency. Additionally, she will be making a
bequest to Worcester State through her last will and testament, as well
as a future charitable gift annuity.
•
Robert Mullin ’53, ’56, Ed.D. made a pledge of $15,000 and a first gift of
$5,000 to establish the Professor Grace Kendrick Musical Celebrations, in
honor of his beloved professor of music and director of the former WSC
Glee Club.
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•
Phillip Wasylean II ’63 continues to be an inspiration to alumni of all generations. In FY16,
he both made a matching gift of $10,000 to help the Class of 1960 reach its endowment
goal, as well as a $10,000 gift to establish the Wasylean Challenge, a challenge to young
alumni to make gifts of $100 or more.
•
Renuka Jain, Ph.D., professor and former chair of the WSU Business Administration and
Economics Department, endowed a $10,000 academic achievement award, the RejMehandra Jain Award, in honor of her parents, Raj and Mahendra Jain. This award will
benefit a graduating female business administration student with a GPA of at least 3.5.
•
The Matty Hehir ’71 Endowed Hockey Fund was created through the efforts of Jack Hehir
’73, and other friends of Matt, who transferred an off-campus fundraising effort to benefit
WSU Lancer Hockey players and the program directly, establishing the new fund with a
collective gift of $12,800.
•
Bay State Savings Bank made a gift of $5,600 to support the Lillian R. Goodman Department
of Nursing.
•
Bet Key Wong ’12 continues her enthusiasm for public health nursing and the work of the
graduate program in nursing at Worcester State with a $5,000 gift to the Dr. Stephanie
Chalupka Fund, which earned a $5,000 match from her employer, 3M, for a total gift to the
fund of $10,000.
Reunion Giving
Alumni reunion giving remained strong in fiscal year
2016, with nearly $30,000 raised for University
initiatives, including the Wellness Center, the Art
Gallery, and class scholarships, from the classes of
1956, 1961, 1966, and 1971.
•
Of special note, William Kerr made a gift and
pledge of $150,000 to honor his late wife,
Joanne ’61, and to also recognize and honor the
memory of Joanne’s aunt and WSU alumnae
from the class of 1939, Ann Doherty Sheehan.
With these gifts, endowed scholarships will be
created in honor of Joanne and her Aunt Ann.
•
Vincent Matulaitis ’66 and his wife Rosanne ’65, a member of the Foundation Board of
Directors, have provided a generous $25,000 gift to endow a scholarship in their name in
honor of their respective 50th Reunions. This is on top of their generous support over the
years to endow a scholarship in honor of Rosanne’s father, former WSU President Eugene A.
Sullivan.
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Day of Giving
The 2016 Day of Giving was a huge
success, with 649 donors donating 698
gifts from 22 states and 11 countries,
more than doubling the goal of 300
gifts. A total of $77,133.15 was raised.
Sixty percent of the donors were
alumni and 28 percent were faculty
and staff. The remaining contributors
were parents, students, and friends.
With 245 students involved in the
initiative, the young alumni and
student giving challenge set by Gregg
‘86 and Pam Rosen ’85 was met,
allowing WSU to receive $10,000 challenge gift from the Rosens. The Day of Giving is also a
campus-based event for current students. The following groups participated in activities related
to Day of Giving: the Class of 2016, Lifetime Lancers, CLEWS (Community Leadership Experience
at Worcester), Presidential Student Ambassadors, Commuter Advisory Board, Student Athlete
Advisory Committee, and CETL.
The Latino Education Institute
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The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts ($15,000) and the Mass Mutual
Foundation ($30,000) supported LEI’s school-based program FAME (Families Active in the
Mission of Education), a collaboration with Springfield Technical Community College and
the Springfield Public Schools.
•
The Fred H. Daniels Foundation Inc. awarded a multi-year grant of $225,000 to support the
strategic expansion of the One Circle for Sexual Education and Healthy Choices program.
This signature program joins the LEI, the Worcester Youth Center and The Community
Builders Inc. at Plumley Village to deliver a culturally responsive, gender-specific program to
support healthy relationships and build positive futures for Worcester’s middle school girls.
•
The United Way of Central Massachusetts awarded two grants from their Community
Impact program: $31,000 to support ISLA (Innovative Services for Latina Achievers) and
$39,000 to support Club Educación. Through their Women’s Initiative grant program, the
LEI was awarded a two-year grant of $72,000 to support the Latina Achievers in Search of
Success program.
•
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF) Discretionary Grants awarded the
LEI a grant of $36,000 to support Padres Comprometidos (Committed Parents) an initiative
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of the LEI’s Club Educación program. Funding will be used to equip Latino parents with
improved life skills and literacy and also provide their children with academic enrichment.
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The GWCF Early Childhood Initiative also generously awarded a $25,000 grant to the LEI for
the implementation of their new Family Engagement Across the Ages program which will
improve educational outcomes for families and children by connecting school and home;
increasing parents' knowledge and skills; and creating a community of practice for family
engagement organizations.
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The GWCF Youth for Community Improvement awarded a $4,000 grant to support the LEI’s
Teen Circle program which develops youth-led community engagement for increasing
healthy relationships among Worcester’s teens.
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Funding of $7,000 was awarded by the Ruth H. and Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation to
support LEI’s ENLACE (Encouraging Latinos to Achieve Excellence) initiative with the
Worcester Public Schools.
Academic Excellence
•
At the close of the scholarship application season, 9,471 applications were received from
759 students. The Scholarship Committee should all be awarded by the end of June. The
28-member committee will be working diligently to make the selections of recipients for
the 169 named scholarships. Students will be notified in early July and awards will be
placed on their accounts before the fall semester
tuition bills are mailed in mid-July. Students and their
donors will be invited to attend the annual Scholarship
Donor brunch next fall on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Several changes were made to the process this year in
response to a request from students to make the
process more student friendly. They include:
o An earlier start date (during holiday break)
o More streamlined prompts for writing the
essays (three more concise essays required
instead of one open response question)
o Utilization of the "automatch” feature offered by the online application vendor.
This feature eliminates the need for students to search for scholarships for which
they are eligible but rather matches them to all scholarships for which they meet
the criteria based on their applications.
•
Sheehan Seed Grants are awarded annually for study abroad, student research and travel,
and honors course development. In FY16, three students were granted $3,000 in
scholarships to travel in Greece, Costa Rica, and Spain; six grants totaling $3,000 were
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given to nine students for research and travel purposes; $3,400 in honors course
development and programming funding was awarded to faculty for class field trips and
fellowships; and $500 was allocated for the Commonwealth Honors Project Prizes.
•
The Santander Universities study abroad scholarship fund enabled 61 students to receive
scholarship assistance for their global experiences. Ten students participated in semesterlong experiences and 51 students participated in short-term experiences (less than eight
weeks). Destinations included Dominican Republic, Ecuadorian Amazon, Cuba, Nicaragua,
El Salvador, South Korea, England, Ireland, Costa Rica, Italy, Austria, Spain, and Mexico.
•
The Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), in collaboration with Reach Out for Schools,
renewed its multi-year support of $50,000 to continue the DCU/Reach Out for Schools
Endowed Book Fund Scholarship providing $10,000 annually to offset the cost of
textbooks for deserving students. DCU and Reach Out for Schools also awarded a $10,000
grant to support the WSU Open Educational Resources (OER) Initiative establishing a new
faculty program for the development of their own textbooks and educational materials.
These books and resources will be “open” and available electronically complementing the
existing course materials whenever possible.
•
A grant of $10,000 from the TJX Foundation renewed funding for the TJX/Robin Kaplan
Scholarship which provides 10 deserving students with important financial aid each year.
Since the scholarship’s inception more than 150 students have been the recipient of this
generous fund.
•
Greater Worcester Community Foundation: Fairlawn Foundation renewed its support
with a second-year grant of $85,000 to expand the CHIPs In Action partnership with
Worcester’s Division of Public Health. Led by the new WSU Center for Interdisciplinary
Health Studies & Practice this interdisciplinary program utilizes faculty/student teams to
conduct research and develop solutions for priority health needs identified in the city’s
Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
•
Fairlawn Foundation also awarded a $10,000 grant to the Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Nursing
Department to support scholarships for nursing students. This generous support provides
nursing students at the undergraduate and graduate levels with vital scholarship funding.
In return, these recipients served as Fairlawn Scholars performing up to 20 hours of
community service serving as outreach ambassadors to area health care agencies and
health-related organizations in Worcester County.
•
The Fred H. Daniels Foundation Inc. awarded a grant of $3,000 to support continuation of
the Green Chemistry Enhancing STEM Teaching & Learning project. This funding was
complemented by in-kind donations of $2,500 from the American Chemical Society.
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Vibrant Campus Life, Civic Engagement, Promoting Success
Engaging Students
•
The winners of the 2016 Robert K. O’Brien Next Big Idea Contest proposed an app to keep
Realtors safer at open houses while at the same time efficiently organizing contact
information. The winning team of Alana Colombo, Julie Dufault, and Brett Tetreault was
one of six teams competing for $5,000 in
prize money. The judges this year
included contest founder Robert K.
O’Brien; Craig A. Bovaird ’77, founder of
Built-Rite Tool & Die; Dulcie Madden,
CEO and a co-founder of Rest Devices;
Kevin O’Brien, a limited partner in
Comprehensive Solutions Group, LLP,
and Targeted English Language Solutions;
and Renee A. King ’12, owner and
founder of The Queen’s Cups bakery.
•
The Worcester State University Enactus team placed in the top 20 (out of 535 across the
United Staes) at the Enactus 2016 National Exposition held in St. Louis, on May 16. The
team won the Regional Competition in Washington, D.C., in March, which qualified them
to compete with 120 other Regional Champions in the National Quarter Finals. Attendance
at the team competitions was made possible through funding from the Foundation’s
Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity grant program and a grant from the
Alumni Advisory Board. The team of 50+ members completed over 6,500 hours of
community service in 10 different community development programs. The projects directly
impacted over 1,600 lives and indirectly impacted over 265,000 lives across the
Commonwealth and nation this year.
The team was one of three teams to earn a $3,500 topic competition from the American
International Group (AIG), which will allow members to partner with Café Reyes/Reyes
House in fall 2016 to deliver health and wellness modules. Additionally, member Raphael
Nunez received the Enactus Emerging Leader Award, which provides a $5,000 scholarship
and an internship at the Grocer Manufacturers Association (GMA) in Washington, D.C. and
Monica Bhakhri received a $7,500 scholarship from the Jules & Gwen Knapp Enactus
Ambassador Scholarship Award.
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•
The Alumni Connections series
launched this spring with the
inaugural Business Alumni
Connections and Criminal Justice
Alumni Connections events.
Featuring an Ask the Alumni panel
and an opportunity to network with
alumni and students, these events
engaged an estimated 100 new
alumni and students. In addition to
engaging our alumni and students,
we worked with the Business and Criminal Justice department to publicize the events,
which also encouraged their attendance and furthered our cross-campus collaboration.
•
The Alumni Office held successful student giving campaigns this spring. On April 6, in
conjunction with the annual Day of Giving, our student alumni association, Lifetime
Lancers, launched the Lancers for Lancers Book Fund campaign, which was supported by
202 students that day. Another 43 students gave to other fundraising efforts.
•
Additionally, members of the Class of 2016 will be paying it forward by contributing the
remaining funds in their Class Fund to the Worcester State Foundation to create the Class
of 2016 Scholarship. The student-led campaign for this effort featured video solicitations
delivered via email and Facebook as well as Text to Give and a first-ever Clear the One Card
Day, which encouraged seniors to donate their remaining common funds to the effort.
With the new methods of outreach, the Alumni Office increased the number of senior
donors by nearly 75 percent from the previous year.
•
Thanks to a generous gift from Gregg '86 and Pamela '87 Rosen, the
campus Bike Share program expanded to Nu Café on Chandler Street
and the Worcester Center for Crafts on Sagamore Road. In addition to
funding awnings at these two locations and the main one on campus
near the Student Center, the Rosens’ gift also funds bikes, helmets
and locks for the program.
•
The Worcester Center for Crafts’ effort to revive their youth sequential and one-time
class/workshop programming was enthusiastically met by local funders last year.
Philanthropic partners included: The Greater Worcester Community Foundation ($10,000),
The Fletcher Foundation ($25,000), The Stoddard Charitable Trust ($50,000), The Webster
Five Foundation ($4,000), United Bank Foundation ($1,000), Southbridge Savings Bank
($250), and Millbury Savings Bank ($250). Renewing the youth program will allow the
Center’s Artists-in-Residence to be part of a fuller educational spectrum, honing their skills
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with students of all ages. It will also increase the Center’s capacity to build an integrated
curriculum across disciplines with the adult program and the gallery program.
•
In FY16, the Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Program awarded $41,575 to 73
students. The program supports full-time, undergraduate and graduate students in
creative, scholarly or research projects related to their academic programs, including
supporting approved travel expenses for presentations or competition in professional or
academic conferences or competitions.
Events
•
The response to the first-ever Alumni Art Show was overwhelming with nearly 180 pieces
of art submitted from 70 alumni for consideration. Eighty percent of alumni who submitted
art work to the juried show were not previously engaged with the Alumni Office. The
Alumni Art Show, which opened on June 2 and will be on display until June 22, features 58
pieces of art from 51 alumni artists representing graduation years from 1961 to 2015.
•
The Alumni Office launched an alumni speaker series for students and young alumni on
April 13, in conjunction with the Young Alumni and the Student Engagement Committees
of the AAAB and the Lifetime Lancers. The inaugural event, Reset: Make The Most of Your
Stress, featured Dr. Kristen Lee Costa ’96, an award-winning behavioral sciences professor,
clinician who received the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award for Distinguished Professional
Achievement. Using her expertise, Dr. Kris provided her tips for navigating academic and
work stress.
•
More than 60 Lancer hockey alumni from the ’60s , ’70s, ’80s, ’90s,
and ’00s gathered for the first-ever Lancer Hockey Alumni Day, the
first alumni hockey game in 15 years. A large contingent of 1990sera alumni participated at the event and the reception afterward,
marking the first time many of them had ever engaged in an official
WSU event.
•
Our student alumni group Lifetime Lancers and our Young Alumni
partnered on our inaugural Home Team Rally event on Jan. 30 at
Holy Cross. There was record attendance for this event with nearly
70 students (all first-time Lifetime Lancer student event attendees),
young alumni and guests.
•
Florida alumni engagement events took place in February and March, two of which were
coordinated with colleagues from Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State to show an
enthusiastic Mass State Universities front:
o A large gathering in Boca Raton, Fla., hosted by the Singh family;
o A February event in Naples, hosted by Gene and Julianne DeFeudis;
o The annual WSU Alumni & Friends Red Sox Spring Training Game in Fort Myers;
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o WSU’s second entry into the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Naples;
o And our first-ever alumni event in Palm Harbor, hosted by alumna Doris SchurWatters ’62.
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Homecoming festivities were held Oct. 24, starting with the first-ever Splash of Color Run
with 270 registered runners. Hundreds of alumni participated in tailgating and cheered the
Lancer football team to a win. Other fall
events that enlivened the campus
community and promote success include
the annual Student Scholarship Recipient
Brunch with nearly 500 people (donors,
students, faculty, and families) attending;
and campus-wide, students participated in
the second annual Thank a Donor Day on
Oct. 29, followed by the annual recognition
of nearly 300 donors at Mechanics Hall’s
Distinguished Donor event. Donors of
$1,000 or more joined President Maloney at the President’s Circle reception at Mechanics
Hall before the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert in December.
•
Giving was definitely part of the season when alumni from the Classes of 1956, 1961, 1966,
1971, and 1976 returned to campus to celebrate and reminisce during Reunion Weekend,
May 20-22. Their collaborative efforts totaled more than $196,000 in gifts to their alma
mater. The festivities included a cocktail reception for the Classes of 1961 and 1966 at the
home of President Barry M. Maloney and his wife, Laura, a Champagne Brunch on Saturday
morning followed by class dinners at various locations. The weekend ended on Sunday
with the Golden Graduate Luncheon.
•
The Aisiku family was honored at the Scholarship Tea on May 1 for their educational
accomplishments, personal and professional successes, and special connection to WSU.
Funds raised from the event support the Dr. Joshua Unuigboje “Oje” Aisiku Scholarship,
which is awarded to an
underrepresented student whose
goal is to work in the Worcester
public school system. Honored were
WSU Professor Emeritus Joshua
Unuigboje Aisiku, Ph.D., and his wife
Brenda Aisiku, M.Ed.; and their
children Imoigele Aisiku ’91, M.D.;
Omozuanvbo Aisiku, ’99, M.A. ’05,
Ph.D.; Imie Aisiku Harber, J.D.; and
Ojeiku C. Aisiku ’08, J.D.
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Distinguished Alumni Awards
The WSU Alumni Association recognized the achievements of five outstanding alumni at its
Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony and dinner on May 5. The awards are the highest nondegree recognition the University bestows on alumni. Honored were:
William O’Brien ’84, Outstanding
Achievement in the Field of
Education: William O’Brien ’84 is a
respected professor in WSU’s
Department of Business
Administration and Economics who
continuously holds his students to
high standards. Professor O’Brien is
an active leader in his field, having
been involved with the Northeast
Business and Economics Association
since 2003, most recently as
president. Since 1996, he has traveled
annually to Taiwan to teach tax
policies at the International Center
for Land Policy Studies and Training.
He has lectured, taught courses, and worked to foster exchange student
programs with the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, the University of
Worcester in England, Chinese Culture University, and Chu Hai College of
Education in Hong Kong.
o Margaret Farrey ’54, M.Ed. ’78, Outstanding Service to Alma Mater: Margaret
Farrey ’54, M.Ed. ’78, is a retired adult education teacher who was an active
Alumni Association Advisory Board Member from 2008 to 2015. She has
volunteered for many years at the Worcester State Foundation’s annual golf
tournament and works to foster participation and pride in her fellow WSU alums
as a member of the Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand Alumni Council. She
has also dedicated herself to keeping her classmates in touch through numerous
class reunions. In addition to helping to organize the class of 1954’s 50th, 55th,
and 60th celebrations, she has served as hostess for the Friday evening cocktail
reception held in conjunction with each.
o Steven J. Ward ’76, Distinguished Professional Achievement: As longtime
director of public health in Watertown and the public health director in Braintree
and Framingham, as well as the deputy director of public health in Worcester,
Steven J. Ward ’76 spearheaded a number of public health policies, programs,
and services. Steven has been active with various mentoring, internship and
education programs, most notably, WSU’s public health internship program.
16
Steven has served as president of WSU’s Alumni Advisory Board and as a
member of the Worcester State Foundation. He has been recognized for his
service with awards from the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association
and the Boston University School of Public Health.
o Sharon A. (O’Brien) Woodbury M.S. ’07, Outstanding Volunteer Service to the
Community: Sharon A. (O’Brien) Woodbury M.S. ’07 has dedicated countless
hours to such organizations as the men’s residential recovery program
Jeremiah’s Inn, the women’s professional center Dress for Success Worcester,
and the domestic violence program YWCA/Daybreak. She has also been a board
member for the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, the Central
Massachusetts Association for Training and Development,and Worcester Credit
Union, the advisory committee of Quinsigamond Community College, as well as
programs supporting fine arts and playground builds at Worcester Public
Schools. She likewise serves as a “best buddy” to Gracie, a young woman with
developmental disabilities. She is director of human resources and public
relations for the Guild of St. Agnes.
o Renee King ’12, Outstanding Young Alumna: At 23 years old, just a few months
following her WSU graduation, Renee King ’12 opened The Queen’s Cups
gourmet cupcake bakery in Millbury. Now, nearly four years later, she’s
producing an average of 2,500 cupcakes a week. In just a short time in business,
she has attracted not only the palate and attention of locals, but numerous
accolades. Worcester Magazine gave her a five-star review, her cupcakes won
Best Desserts in the Millbury Sutton Chronicle Readers’ Choice Awards in 2014
and 2015, and she was named one of “Worcester’s 10 Coolest People” by
GoLocalWorcester.
•
In recognition of his outstanding service to the United States and his unwavering
commitment to the students of Worcester State University, Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan '55,
USMC, received a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, at the Academic Achievement
Awards on April 28. The annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony honors the
highest-ranking students in each of the academic disciplines, as nominated by department
faculty. Special awards were also presented during ceremony, including the Lt. Col. James
F. Sheehan ’55, USMC Ret. Awards to the students with the top G.P.A. in each class, other
academic recognition awards, the Presidential Award, and the Ella Mae Whitney Award.
Strategic Initiatives
•
The Worcester State University Alumni Advisor Network launched this spring. The Alumni
Advisor Network is a powerful online platform that facilitates one-to-one career
consultations. Alumni can register on the platform in minutes by importing their LinkedIn
profile. They can share their expertise with students in three ways: career conversations,
resume critiques, and mock interviews.
17
•
A completely redesigned alumni magazine, renamed Worcester State
Magazine, debuted in October, followed by the spring edition in May.
The new design showcases a modern look with bold photos and
engaging features. The design was guided by feedback received from
focus groups of alumni, faculty, students, and staff, as well as board
members and other campus leaders, to better understand what they
wanted to see in the WSU’s flagship communication vehicle. The new
name serves as a branding mechanism and tells readers right away
what’s inside—news and information about Worcester State.
Enrollment, Retention, and Student Success
•
The impact of donor-funded scholarships on student retention and graduation
completion rates is striking. The chart below demonstrates the significant impact on yield
and retention of students who receive donor-funded scholarships over those who do not
participate in the program. Significantly, six-year graduation rates of students who receive
scholarships are nearly 25 percent higher for the Fall 2007 cohort and 15.5 percent higher
for the 2008 cohort than those students who do not receive scholarships. We are confident
in saying that continuing our scholarship program and fundraising for scholarships will
remain a top priority for the Advancement division in our support of enrollment, retention
and student success.
18
•
The Phonathon continues to strengthen the process of collecting, sharing and using data in
order to improve the student experience by calling more than 4,000 young alumni to
update their professional and demographic information. This information is shared with
career services and helps to aid them in the process of job networking and mentoring of
students.
•
Advancement Communications
created a “sneak peek” video of
the still-under-construction
Wellness Center for fundraising
use. The video was also used by
Admissions for accepted students
and prospective athletes to get
them excited about the fall. The
video, which was also highlighted
on the WSU home page, the
Advancement home page, and in
the alumni enewsletter, has more
than 3,500 views.
•
The Alumni Office and the Admissions Office established the Lancer Admissions
Ambassador Program, utilizing interested younger alumni, Class Agents, and members of
the Young Alumni and Student Engagement committees of the AAAB. Two recruiting
events using young alumni ambassadors successfully launched the program in October.
•
The Nursing Department received a $1,000 grant from The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and
the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. This generous funding supported the
Department’s first-ever Gold-AACN White Coat Ceremony for Nursing. This event
allowed students, who are focusing just on coursework in their first year of studies, to
reflect on their chosen profession and the importance of humanism in providing care to
patients.
Helping Ensure Financial Stability
•
We have 100 percent giving from all three of the WSU boards (Trustees, Foundation, and
Alumni Association), with total board giving at $161,000. Additionally, 96 percent of WSU
Cabinet members gave a total of $18,494.
•
The 23nd Annual Worcester State Foundation Golf Tournament will return to the sister
courses of Wachusett Country Club in West Boylston and Kettle Brook Golf Club in Paxton
on Monday, June 27. Once again, Gene J. DeFeudis is the tournament’s Presenting
19
Sponsor. More than 220 golfers are expected to tee off and raise more than $160,000 in
support of student scholarships, research, and other University initiatives.
•
Corporate and Foundation Relations: To date, approximately $562,050 in corporate and
foundation funding has been awarded and an additional $746,859 in awards are pending
decisions for FY17. Grant-seeking efforts were supported by the talent of two WSU
undergraduate students, Melissa Dognazzi and Stephanie Lavin, who served as grantwriting interns under a pilot program launched in FY16.
20

Worcester State Foundation - Worcester State University

Transcription

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