We have a major concern here on the Graceland campus to start off this month's Development Office Newsletter. Administrators are worried that first-time students who arrived at the end of January might have gotten the wrong impression about winters in southern Iowa. Like most parts of the United States, Lamoni has had a splendid winter thus far and that explains the many touch football games breaking out behind the Gunsolley dormitory. I think if we see a fall off in semester grades we will know who to blame...the weatherman. But never fear...professors in every discipline have worked hard to keep students focused.
And this leads us to our first "serious" topic of conversation. Some of you have told us that you would like more news from the academic world...so here goes. It has been Graceland's practice to permit readmission of students immediately following academic dismissal. Our experience has been that up to forty percent of the students readmitted were academically dismissed again after the subsequent semester, twenty percent were placed on academic probation, and thirteen percent withdrew. Graceland's practice of immediate readmission has proved to not be in the best interest of the student, and this practice is unusual in higher education. A policy was recently approved addressing readmission after academic dismissal. After sitting out for a semester a student will need to provide evidence that he/she is willing and able to be successful as a student at Graceland University. Extreme circumstances would warrant consideration for immediate readmission, and these would include family misfortune, illness, and other significant circumstances outside the control of the student. It would usually be the case that the Dean of Student's Office would already be working with students experiencing extreme circumstance. Everyone at Graceland University is committed to all of our students being successful.
Renaissance week is always a highlight of February at Graceland and this year Stephen M. Veazey, Community of Christ President, spent a full day on campus checking in with students. Veazey graduated from the University of Tennessee but always seems to feel right at home at Graceland. After a Wednesday night fellowship service with students, he sat down for an interview with the Graceland Tower. Assistant editor Dan Gregory quizzed the president of the church about the constant questioning he gets with regards to Community of Christ beliefs and practices. Said Veazey, "Questions are the stimulus that causes us to seek understanding, but don't let the questions paralyze you. Always remember that you will never have all your questions answered before you become a disciple." See some of the pictures taken during President Veazey's visit by clicking here for Veazey's Photo Gallery. And you can e-mail President Veazey at sveazey@CofChrist.org.
For those of you who have not been back to Lamoni in years, you need to know that the Roy A. Cheville Chapel opened in the fall of 1978. Its price tag was a then lofty $325,000 and according to the Graceland Book of Knowledge, President Frank Hough decreed that the building be kept open without supervision in order to best serve its purposes. Thanks to the classes of '65, '70, and '85, along with gifts from former chaplains, $9,300 was raised to purchase new seating. You can see what it looks like inside the Cheville Chapel now that the chairs have been positioned by clicking on our Cheville Chapel Photo Gallery.
The last weekend in February is a special time for Graceland's Center for the Study of the Korean War. The center's 7th Annual Conference came off without a hitch with this year's topic of "War and Propaganda" generating fascinating presentations that led to some very interesting dialogue. A special moment at the conference came when Graceland Professor Emeritus and Korean War Center founder Paul Edwards was recognized as a "Graceland Legend." You can enjoy pictures of Edwards and his family during the ceremony by clicking on Graceland Legend Paul Edwards Photo Gallery.
We've said a lot lately in the Development Office Newsletter about the Graceland Winter term trip to the Gulf Coast to help a church family rebuild their home after hurricane Katrina. Major kudos to Professor Dan Pratt for heading up this awesome venture. You can watch a nine minute video on the trip shot and edited by one of the students by clicking on Katrina Winter Term Video.
It's time to sing the praises of a recent investor in Graceland's future. This month's Investor Spotlight zooms in on Ms. Ruth Hutchcroft of Carlsbad, California. Ruth is a proud member of the Class of '41 and has gifted $10,000 in cash to the University to beef up a scholarship fund that will help students who are $1,000 or so short of making ends meet, to attend Graceland. And that's not all folks...Ms. Hutchcroft has told us that we can expect another $10,000 before year's end. After doing some digging, all of this philanthropy makes sense. Ruth's mother, Amy, graduated from Graceland in 1908 and daughter, Susan Hutchcroft, walked with the Class of 1968.
Ok...time to do some chest thumping...we have crunched the numbers and have set new records for cash gifted to the University in any one month (December '05) and overall in any one year. What's cool is that the new fiscal year for Graceland doesn't kick in until June 1 so we continue to raise the bar until then. It all means that momentum continues to build for the realization of our dream of building a new Science and Technology Center. If you need no further arm twisting then you can park your mouse on this Make a Gift Today link to give our Graceland Forever Campaign Phase II an immediate shot in the financial arm.
All of us like to day dream about the lofty financial future we hope to create for our retirement years. We also like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that when we pass on to our greater reward what's left of our wealth goes to the right people and our most beloved charities. That's why it's always smart to pay attention to our monthly estate planning "Tip of the Month." One of the most important estate planning tools is the Living Trust, yet relatively few people take advantage of the benefits it offers. Most folks tend to view trusts as complex plans used only by the wealthy. This perception is way off target. A living trust could benefit your family too. You can, 1) eliminate the delay and added expenses related to Probate court, 2) minimize estate and inheritance taxes, 3) maintain privacy --- not possible with just a will. The living trust is a perfect tool to help control your assets for your lifetime and still include a loving gift to Graceland. You can get a FREE "Living Trust Information Packet" by contacting Todd Sturgis at tsturgis@graceland.edu.
From the Graceland Sports Beat the Yellowjackets ranked fourth in the United States Sports Academy Director's Cup after the fall season of heroics. And Kent Allshouse is the Heart of America Conference Track Coach of the Year. Learn more about the Director's Cup and how Allshouse nailed down the award by clicking on Graceland Athletics Web Page.
That's it...I'm out of time. There's always plenty more to report on but you'll have to wait until next month to get it. Please have your Graceland friends send us their e-mail addresses so they too can enjoy the Development Office Newsletter right from their very own computers.
Until next month...CIAO and...GOOOOO GRACELAND!
