June 2005 Development Newsletter

Article Body: So many wonderful things have happened at Graceland since the last time we chatted. Surely at the very top of the list is Graduation 2005. A school record 599 students earned the right to strut their stuff on stage. Dr. Swanee G. Hunt delivered the keynote address inside a packed Closson Center. The weather was absolutely gorgeous on what is always a bitter sweet day. It’s hard to say goodbye but exciting to send off another edition of Graceland’s best and brightest into the world. See the photo gallery to see more hugs and smiles.

Remember when Graceland started the Nugget Club program back in 1983? This program is for children of Graceland alumni. We watched ten Nuggets from the inaugural group walk across the stage. Say cheeeeeese! The Alumni Programs Office provided the young grads with a commemorative tee-shirt.

The weather did not cooperate for the 6th annual Alumni Candlelighting Ceremony which traditionally happens in front of the Higdon Administration building. Chilly temperatures sent us inside the Memorial Student Center. Alumni Board president Michael Lewis guided family and friends along with the soon-to-be graduates thru the very special ceremony. See photos in the gallery.

And you must let your computer take you through some of the great shots from the annual Final Fling. This event happens right before finals and it gives students a chance to have one long day of healthy, safe partying before bearing down for the last round of tests. The Development Office Staff was once again the hit of the bash with a baby pool full of ice cream and chocolate syrup. We actually had to hose down Director Kelly Everett after our last scoop was dished out at around midnight, and Associate Director Stu Sherman says he will never be able to look at another bowl of ice cream again.

Graceland's Students in Free Enterprise Team, (SIFE), served up another sweet performance at the Nationals in Kansas City, Missouri. After winning their opening bracket Kevin Prine's crew outperformed all but the eventual National champion Drury University in the second round. Eight hundred colleges and universities have SIFE programs with 165 teams competing at Nationals. To think that Graceland finished in the TOP 6 is mind boggling.

Sorry to have missed some of you at the Community of Christ World Conference and Graceland's Open House held at the Independence Campus. The Development staff provided shuttle service from the auditorium. The reception gave alumni and friends a chance to mingle and also see the brand new Graceland Forever Campaign video.

This month's Donor Spotlight zooms in on Mrs. Darlene Wight of Independence, Missouri. Darlene has gifted $13,000 to two different memorial funds. The Les Wight Family Award is for the artist with the outstanding painting in the yearly student show, while the Claudia VanBiber 2-D Art Award honors Darlene's mother. Darlene survives her husband, Les, who taught in the Fine Arts Division from 1961-1987.

You can make a special gift to Graceland with a charitable gift annuity. Todd Sturgis is Graceland's Director of Development and in his Tip of the Month, Todd says that a charitable gift annuity is a perfect example of how our tax laws continue to provide special ways to accomplish two objectives with the same asset. A closer look at the gift annuity reveals a true win-win proposition. You can receive high returns on an asset and have guaranteed income paid to you, your parent(s), or a loved one for life. But the best news of all is that an annuity can ultimately result in a very nice gift to Graceland. For more on this and other possibilities for planning a gift to Graceland, e-mail Todd at tsturgis@graceland.edu. And you can also click on the Graceland web page at the bottom of this newsletter for a variety of gifting ideas.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and we wish a happy and safe summer to all of you. GO YELLOWJACKETS!
Event Date: 6/30/2005 2:20 PM