University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well Profile Campus News, Newsletters, and Events Fall 2006 Profile: "Giving back" Celebrating service, volunteerism, generosity University Relations Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/profile Recommended Citation University Relations, "Profile: "Giving back" Celebrating service, volunteerism, generosity" (2006). Profile. 28. https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/profile/28 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Campus News, Newsletters, and Events at University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. It has been accepted for inclusion in Profile yb an authorized administrator of University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Profile For Alumni, Parents, and Friends of the University of Minnesota, Morris UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS · --------------Volume XI, Edition 1, Fall 2006 ''Giving back'' elebrating service, volunteerism, generosity The Annual Honor Roll ofDonon UMM Mission Statement The mission of UMM as an undergraduate, residential, liberal arts college is distinctive within the University of Minnesota. The Morris campus shares the University's statewide mission of teaching, research, and outreach, yet it is a small college where students can shape their own education. The campus serves undergraduate students primarily from Minnesota and its neighboring states, and it is an educational resource and cultural center for citizens of west central Minnesota. Through its instructional excellence, it_s commitment to research, its numerous extracurricular programs and services, and its strong sense of community, UMM endeavors to achieve its place among the best liberal arts colleges in the nation. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS Living and learning in the UMM community -a message from Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson UMM's fifth chancellor assumed her position on August 1, 2006. This is Chancellor Johnson 's first Profi le column as UMM's chief administrative officer. As I write these words, all the elements of back-to-school are upon us-the chill in the morning air; the subtle bronzing of the Minnesota landscape as autumn takes hold; the return of students to campus; and the promise of good things to come. After spending the past two months in my new home, I am convinced that there is no school where that promise is more strongly present than the University of Minnesota, Morris. We are off to a great start this fall: student emollment numbers are up for the first time in several years. This increase in new students is the result of a focused effort on the part of many people, and is felt across the board-in new high school graduates, in transfer students, and in international students. A few weeks ago, we opened Big Cat Stadium-the impressive new football fac ility that represents the best in cooperative relations between "town and gown." The renovation of John Q. Imholte Hall is complete, and we packed the new Cow Palace as we honored former Chancellor Jack (John Q.) Imholte during Homecoming weekend. And our efforts to move toward energy independence continue as our national reputation as a "green" campus grows. This fall, we also continue the strategic planning efforts that began last year. As part of this effort, we are thinking carefully about our brand claims and market niche-words that were barely spoken in hjgher education 10 or 20 years ago, but that are now critical to the success of educational institutions. We live in a world of rnghly competitive markets, and we have to get our message out. We have to position ourselves in those markets in a way that distinguishes us from other, similar institutions. We have to stake our claim. UMM's strategic planning document does just that. It includes the claim that the University of Minnesota, Morris is a public honors coll ege. We believe that with this claim we can continue the legacy of rich and rigorous undergraduate education that has long characterized this institution. Perhaps more importantly, we believe that the particular niche that this claim represents will allow us to reposition and distinguish ourselves even more effectively than we already have. Living and learning in an honors community is no easy task; it shouldn't be. Membership in such a community carries with it obligations; it should. Acquiring an education in an honors community provides incomparable opportunities for the future and for li ves fully lived. With the public honors college claim we affinn UMM's identity as we move forward in our efforts to attract and educate a highly qualified and capable group of new students. Though I have only recently joined the UMM community, I am already impressed by and proud of the talented, dedicated, lively, and interesting group of people that lives and works here! I am honored to be serving as the chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Morris. Fall 2006 Profile page I UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS A message from Maddy Maxeiner associate vice chancellor for external relations Extraordinary stories about generous people unfold on a daily basis. Sometimes these stories get lost in our UMM Fiscal Year 2006 Donors ongoing narratives of violence, conflict, and troubles. We invite you to take a few minutes right now to read about our UMM family-alumni, parents, faculty, staff, retirees, and friends-and the ways they make a difference. In this, our annual Honor Roll issue, we are proud to recognize the financial contributions made to UMM during the past year and to publicly thank the many donors who choose to improve UMM through their generous giving. Last year, private gifts to UMM totaled over $1.1 million. Nearly $900,000 was contributed for scholarships and student support-our highest priorities. UMM's endowment grew by 13 percent, a sure UMM Fiscal Year 2006 Gift Purpose sign of future prosperity. Gifts were contributed in the form of cash, securities, land, retirement assets, and even wetland tax credits- a most unusual gift! Gifts came from students, faculty, staff, UMM retirees, alumni of the West Central School of Agriculture, alumni ofUMM, parents, friends in the community, businesses, corporations, foundations, and trusts. It is nearly impossible to imagine this philanthropy all at once! We are honored by the faith you have placed in UMM's mission. Another important measure of support is "participation." UMM's alumni participation rate, at 16.5 percent, compares favorably to other public liberal arts colleges. The number of alumni who choose to make a gift sends a strong message to the outside world that we believe in UMM's mission and are invested in its success. If you are feeling motivated right now, please use the reply envelope UMM Fiscal Year 2006 giving handily tucked inside this issue to make a gift to UMM. Let's move the dial on During Fiscal Year 2006, the University that alumni participation measure! of Minnesota, Morris received $1 ,104,893 We are looking forward to the year ahead, as we welcome Chancellor in gifts and new pledges as reported by the Jacqueline Johnson and the campus prepares to implement a new strategic plan. University of Minnesota Foundation. More Thank you for being a part ofUMM's mission and for giving back. than 2,000 donors expressed their loyalty May our paths cross soon! and support for UMM and its mission by making a gift to support UMM students, faculty, staff, and programs. 0,000,000 2,500,000 UMM Commitment 9,000,000 Activity b 8,000,000 2,000,000 Fiscal Year 7,000,000 2000 6,000,000 1,500,000 5,000,000 2803 4,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 UMM Growth In Endowment 500,000 2,000,000 1992-2006 1,000,000 0 Fall 2006 Profile page 2 UNJVERSTTY OF MTNNESOTA MORRIS George Erickson's gifts in perpetuity- restored wetlands and endowed UMM scholarship George Erickson, a 1953 graduate of the West Central School of Agriculture (WCSA), has made a gift to the University of Minnesota, Morris that recognizes and honors several important elements in his life. First and foremost, it serves as a memorial to his wife, Erma. His gift also acknowledges an appreciation for the WCSA education he received. And giving to UMM reflects George's passion for "giving back," and his dedication to restoring Minnesota wetlands. George grew up "on the edge of the Red River Valley" in northern Minnesota, a significant distance from a high school. A boarding school made sense. WCSA, which made its home on the Morris campus at the time, was his choice. Following graduation in 1953, George served three years in the Marine Corps with 12 months of his service in Korea. When he returned to the Red River Valley, "where everyone knew each other," he became reacquainted with a young woman he knew from the Tintah area, Erma Strom. They were married in 1957. The couple first made their home in the Twin Cities where they raised four children. George enjoyed a 20 plus-year career as chief pilot flying Lear Jets for Adams Communications, whose CEO was entrepreneur Stephen Adams, son of legendary WCCO radio personality Cedric Adams. From farmland to wetlands In 1988, Erma and George's lives took a different direction. In a partnership with Stephen Adams, they acquired several thousand acres of farmland in southern Minnesota that they operated until 2002. In 1999, Erma died from cancer, and shortly after, George retired from farming but retained two farmland parcels along the Cedar and Root Rivers that were converted wetlands. He had a plan. George bulldozed out the drainage tile and reseeded with native foliage. He watched the land return to its natural George Erickson, a 1953 graduate of the West Central School wetlands state.