The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno • Spring 2015 Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship Moving the American Dream Forward Building a Stronger What I’ve Learned HONOR ROLL Nevada Together Edna Benna OF DONORS From the President Now serving as your University Tour-Guide-in-Chief University presidents play many roles. The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno There are times when we are asked to dive into our institution’s budgets with the skill of accoun- www.unr.edu/silverandblue tants, with numbers and data spilling forth from us like computerized printouts. We spend time with students. We listen as Copyright ©2015, by the University of Nevada, Reno. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written they tell us about their dreams for tomorrow. permission is prohibited. Nevada Silver & Blue (USPS# 024-722), We position our institutions to help our students Spring 2015, Volume 32, Number 3, is published quarterly (fall, find what they do well, and prepare them for winter, spring, summer) by the University of Nevada, Reno, spending their life in the pursuit of doing it well. Development and Alumni Relations, Morrill Hall, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89503. Periodicals postage paid at Reno, NV and at We work to connect with our community. We additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes encourage everyone in our region and our state to Nevada Silver & Blue, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation/ toward the collective ideal of physical gateways MS 0162, Reno, NV 89557-0162. leading into a world of collaboration, of a future Contact us: that is conceived and realized together. Theresa by Photo Danna-Douglas Nevada Silver & Blue Magazine Morrill Hall Alumni Center We spend time with donors and alumni. We President Marc Johnson in his role as Campus University of Nevada, Reno / 0007 find that there are sweet spots in past personal Golf Cart Tour Guide. Reno, NV 89557-0007 experience that can feel like poetry where our fax: (775) 784-1394 University can stir the echoes, and like the stron- Class Notes submissions: [email protected] gest of epics, bring forth the sharing of story, deep reflection, and the joy of memory. Class Notes/Mates/Cubs: (775) 784-6620; [email protected] And then there is one of my most important roles (albeit a slightly unofficial capacity relative to Address changes/obituaries: (775) 682-6541; [email protected] All other inquiries: (775) 784-1352; [email protected] my job description as University President): That of Campus Golf Cart Tour Guide. “Nevada Silver & Blue” Rain or shine, in brisk days of Washoe Zephyr or on calm days with skies profoundly colored twitter.com/silverandblue Nevada Blue, I often take guests across our campus in an electric golf cart supplied to me by our Facilities Services Division. Executive Editor John K. Carothers Our golf cart hums with near-silent efficiency. The tour, however, is anything but, as we are a Managing Editors Amy Carothers ‘01 M.A., kinetic campus. We are a place full of the flurry of construction. Students who hurry to and from Christy Jerz ’97 class. Dedicated faculty who are finding the answers to the spirit and wants of our age. Hard-work- Art Director Patrick McFarland ’97 ing and resourceful staff members who in their daily labor make our institution run smoothly and efficiently. Senior Writer Roseann Keegan My tour guests are usually impressed with what they see. They should be. In many instances, it Associate Editors Carrie Bushá ’06, Angie Cooper, Chad Hartley ’03, Anne McMillin, Kevin is through their generosity that many of our capital improvements, our student initiatives, and our Price, Jane Tors ‘82, Keiko Weil ’87 investment in our faculty and staff, are even made possible. Contributors Dawn Lawrence ’95, ’97 M.A., Elizabeth In this issue of Nevada Silver & Blue, you will read about scores of individuals, foundations and Wesseling ’01, ’12 M.A., Jasia Beehler groups that have given to our University so that we can continue to grow in order to meet the needs ’12, Tamara Koszuth, CPA of our students, and of our state. Staff Photographer Theresa Danna-Douglas Their donations, both large and small, both monetarily and in the investment of the inspiration of Photographers David Calvert ’12, Jeff Dow, Jamie spirit, are what give our campus its resounding sense of energy. This type of support will be needed Kingham ’93, Lee Pfalmer ’07, even more—for continued capital improvement, for scholarships, for investment in our academic Dave Smith, M.D. Welch ’00 offerings and in enhancing the support this high-quality University can offer faculty and staff in the Website Patrick McFarland ’97 important work they do. If one of my roles is to drive a golf cart across our campus, serving as tour guide, extolling our virtues as a research University that is steadily growing in excellence and reputation, then so be it. Ours is certainly a story of success, worth sharing often. I am deeply grateful to each and every one Spring 2015 of our donors. Our successes would not be possible without your steadfast support. Thank you for • partnering with us in building a stronger Nevada, together. Marc A. Johnson • President Sincerely, Kevin Carman • Executive Vice President and Provost John K. Carothers • VP, Development and Alumni Relations Marc A. Johnson Bruce Mack • Assoc. VP, Development and Alumni Relations President NEVADA SILVER & BLUE unr.edu/president 2 Table of Contents Spring 2015. Vol. 32. No. 3 Features 2 6 12 Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship: Building a stronger Nevada, together What I’ve Learned: Edna Benna Moving the American Dream forward Honor Roll 96 University for You – Living With Fire program receives award / Giant leaps for Fleischmann Planetarium 15 Message from Executive Director / Foundation Chair 16 University of Nevada, Reno Foundation Board of Trustees 98 University News – National Geographic exhibit 18 University of Nevada, Reno Endowments/Financials features work of University’s Zeb Hogan 23 Silver & Blue Society 106 HOME MEANS NEVADA 24 Foundations & Organizations 108 – Message from the Nevada Alumni President 25 William N. Pennington Foundation continues investment in scholarships 109 – Class Chat 26 New Foundation Endowments 29 Nevada Tax Policy professor named in honor of Barbara Smith Campbell 110 – Kickin’ it with K-von | My first marathon 30 Foundation Endowments 114 – Chapter Updates 35 “Hello, I’m calling from the University of Nevada, Reno ...” 116 – Gatherings – Student Recruitment Reception / Nevada at 36 Board of Regents Endowments UNLV Basketball Tailgate / TEDxUniversityofNevada 118 – Family Tree Challenge – Thompson / Bowser family 39 Susanne and Gloria Young Foundation champions DFS program 120 – Remembering Friends 40 Faculty & Staff 42 Memorial scholarship honors Michele Basta ’66, ’87 M.A. 121 Fostering Nevada’s Future – Ann and Thomas Howell 44 Alumni give back to the Department of Chemistry 45 Bruce Hoffman ’82 supports Washoe County graduates 49 Class Endowment Challenge 51 Endowment honors distinguished Nevada jurist About the cover 54 Roxie & Azad Joseph Foundation Trust creates Scholar Leader Endowment Eren Ozmen ’85 MBA and Fatih Ozmen ’81 M.S. (electrical engineering) are the owners of 57 KUNR Signal Circle support grows in 2014 Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which was ranked as the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative 60 Parent Donors Companies in Space” by Fast Company and the “U.S. Top 10 Fastest-growing Companies” by 62 About Planned Giving / Nevada Legacy Society Inc. Their recent $5 million gift established the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship at The 64 Bequests Received College of Business. 65 Future Planned Gifts Established By Living Donors 66 Friends Only Online 69 Nevada Order of the Eastern Star supports cancer research Visit our website for photo galleries, full versions of the printed stories, plus video and audio clips. 77 Mary A. & Wilbur R. Wallace Scholarship Endowment You can also access Nevada Silver & Blue archives. Visit unr.edu/silverandblue. In this issue: 78 Corporations What I’ve Learned – For the full interview with Edna Benna. 80 The College of Business Corporate Partners Program continues to grow 82 Athletics – Wolf Pack welcomes Lee Nelson Gatherings – For more photos from all of our events. NEVADA SILVER & BLUE 83 Athletics – Message from the Athletics Director / Financial information Remembering Friends – For the full obituaries. 84 Honor Court HONOR ROLL OF DONORS –We are grateful for your support. The recognition given to those listed in this special donor issue of Nevada Silver & Blue is one small way to thank our generous donors for gifts received during calendar year 2014. Every effort has been made to make this report accurate. Departments If your name has been omitted, misspelled or misplaced, we apologize. Please contact the Office of Donor Relations at (775) 784-1587 or [email protected] with questions or corrections. 92 Good Medicine – EJC Foundation helping Nevada seniors / Mick • Hitchcock creates endowed chair for medical biochemistry Spring 2015 NOTE: The academic degrees indicated following an individual’s name indicate only degrees received from the 94 Gatherings – Wolf Pack Blue Tie Ball / Nevada Proteomics Center University of Nevada, Reno. Individuals marked with an asterisk (*) are deceased, however this notation is not Rededication / Ozmen Center Reception / School of Medicine Match Day indicated in the Honor Court listing or Remembering Friends. 1 Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship Moving the American Dream forward Photo courtesy Sierra Nevada Corporation ore than 30 years ago, two young people that launched their entrepreneurial vision is designing and building airplanes and space- from Turkey—then strangers—em- into a global high-tech aviation and aerospace craft, among many other products, services Mbarked on a new adventure as graduate company. and capabilities. With a recent $5 million gift to students at the University of Nevada, Reno.