Extra...Extra...read all about it...Graceland University pulls off a major victory at the Students In Free Enterprise National Championships...by winning the whole enchilada!
You are not dreaming and this is not a misprint or prank. Graceland has nailed down its 1st non-athletic National Championship by beating the best of the best in Kansas City on May 23. What does this mean? Just that out of 500 other colleges and universities across the land with SIFE programs the one that calls Lamoni, Iowa home is the very best...second to none. Our team now has its ticket punched for the SIFE World Cup competition slated for September 11-13 in Paris, France where it will represent the United States of America (typing that just gave me goose bumps.) You can get the full story by clicking on Graceland's SIFE wins it ALL, check out our team's very own web page fresh with pictures at the GU SIFE Web Page. Please stay tuned for news of an alumni reception in Paris.
By the way...some of those SIFE stars walked for their diplomas just a week before the competition at Commencement 2006. This year, a record 632 students earned degrees from Graceland. Community of Christ President Steven M. Veazey delivered the keynote address. Longtime Philosophy professor Bob Mesle hauled in the Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching while 11 students took home the prestigious Gold Seal for Scholarship with cumulative GPA's of 4.0. We've taken some pictures of Graduation day and want you to enjoy them at home. Please place your mouse on Graduation Gallery...click and then let your computer do the rest.
But before we can close the book on another stellar school year there are certain rites of passage that surely you've heard about by now...like Final Fling. This huge party happens every spring the last weekend before finals. This year...like always...everybody had a blast. We took the liberty of snapping a few pictures so you can see how much fun your sons, daughters, relatives and friends really had. Just click on Final Fling Party and get ready to smile.
It was a much more serious tone Graduation weekend when the Alumni Association held the 7th annual Candlelighting ceremony on the brick plaza in front of the Higdon Administration Building. This is such a special event which is simply a chance for all Graceland alumni on hand to welcome new graduates to the fold. You can see what this year's event looked like by clicking on Candlelighting Ceremony.
Congratulations most certainly are in order for the graduating seniors but also to the entire student body and faculty. The challenge was on...and the challenge was met. All told almost $8,500 was raised in the Million Penny Challenge. Every penny of the loot is headed straight to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help in the never ending battle against AIDS. To help celebrate, a handful of brave faculty members had hairdo upgrades while two poor souls actually gave it all up for the cause after promising to do so if the goal was reached. See our new and improved faculty by clicking on Hairdo Makeovers.
The 2nd annual Yellowjacket Club Golf outing was another smashing success. This time 16 duffers got together in the warm Arizona sun for four days of high fives and bombs away tee shots. In the end, aside from the many birdies, pars and bogies...$14,000 was raised to help remodel the women's locker room in the Closson Center. The low gross champion was Bob Allshouse from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The low net champ was Johnny Huntsman from Monroe, Louisiana. Way to hit 'em far and straight...except for Kelly Everett who we think really did break that window.
Everywhere the Development staff travels, we speak first and foremost about Graceland's diehard goal of breaking ground for the new Science and Technology Center in 2009. Do you mind if we brag about a recent gift? In this month's Investor Spotlight we salute Al and Roberta Dieterman of Caledonia, Michigan after they dug down deep to pledge $50,000 to the project. Al graduated from GU in 1956 and with his family's pledge has earned the right to name the conference room in the Science building. Get the latest on this historic Graceland project at Science and Technology Center Update. Maybe this time next month your gift will be highlighted here.
Making travel plans this summer? Is your living trust up-to-date? Are your assets properly listed in the trust? What about successor trustee and Power of Attorney...do you know for sure if they are still willing and able to serve? Make sure the beneficiary designation lists the right person and/or charity on your pension plan, IRA's, insurance policies, 401k’s etc., because not all assets are controlled by your living trust. When you review and update your plan, please remember to include Graceland University. For ideas, go to www.graceland.edu. Click on giving opportunities then gift planning or contact Todd Sturgis, Director of Development at tsturgis@graceland.edu or 1-800-645-3582. We want you to take that summer vacation with peace of mind.
One last thing before I bid you adieu. The spring 2006 issue of Horizons is now available online at Graceland's Web site. Just click on Horizons and let the cover to cover reading begin. We invite you to visit the Graceland University Web site frequently to check the "Headlines" and "Online Calendar" at the top of the home page for news updates from both the Lamoni and Independence campuses. You should also watch for the low-down on Homecoming 2006 and the Alumni Trip to Ireland on our "What's New" link.
If there is anything else I should include in this Development Office Newsletter I sure can"t think of it...so until next time...bye.
