April 2005 Development Newsletter

Article Body: Graceland University hoops did not figure in College Basketball's March to the Arch in St. Louis, but we can brag about a rarity. Senior guard Matt Lynch is a first-team All-American, only the second basketball player in Graceland's history to receive this honor. The NAIA Conference Player of the year averaged 21.3 points per game and ended up being the Yellowjacket's all-time leading thief - a school record of 267 steals! The Mt. Ayr native led Graceland to the second round of the conference post-season tournament. Lynch goes down as one of the most exciting players ever to watch in Lamoni.

You talk about exciting - the Graceland Independence Campus was the venue for the Women of Influence Conference on Saturday, April 2. The event brought in highly accomplished career women from around the world for presentations and breakout discussions on the core theme, "New Forms of Peacemaking." This was a wonderful opportunity for students from both campuses to interact with speakers such as Melanne Verveer, former assistant to President Clinton and Chief of Staff to the First Lady. Other presenters included Joyce Neu of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, and Rina Amiri, Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations in Afghanistan. They shared their experiences as Peace Makers.

Julie (Weller) Graybill is a woman of influence in her own right. The Graceland graduate and reigning Mrs. Georgia was back on the Lamoni campus in early April to talk with students about eating disorders. Julie was hospitalized during her junior year at Graceland and later diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa. Mrs.Graybill presented two sessions of "Hunger for Something Greater; Understanding and Preventing Eating Disorders." If Julie's message can save just one current student from suffering the way she did, her visit was well worth it.

It was valuable taking in this year's International Night festivities on the Lamoni campus. Eighteen very talented acts took us around the globe. Salsa, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Russian, Classic, Thai and Belly Dancing demonstrations had everybody turning rugs. You can feel like you were a part of it all by checking out the event's Photo Gallery at the bottom of this newsletter.

And now the moment you have all been waiting for: this month's Development Office Donor Spotlight is on Don and Georgia Payne of Lincoln, Nebraska. Since 1979 this family has made a gift to Graceland over 303 different months. That is absolutely incredible and we salute their determined dedication to our mission! Don and Georgia said, "We are both educators and believe strongly in the value of education. On top of that, we think our Community of Christ sponsored University is top notch." We think you're great too, Don and Georgia!

The Graceland Forever Capital Campaign continues to pick up steam as we go full throttle in raising $27 million dollars over the next five years to make Graceland the best that it can be. Note that $17 million has been targeted for a state-of-the-art Science and Technology Center. You can jump in with both feet by calling the Development Office to explore giving opportunities for you and your family. To be listed in the Annual Report of Donors in the fall, you need to make your gift by May 31. With Homecoming just six months away, now is the time to make your travel plans. You must come back to "the Hill!"
Event Date: 5/1/2005 2:25 PM