“This gift represents the class’s commitment not only to the ongoing budget of the college, but to King Chapel and its importance to our class,” said class gift chair and long-time college trustee Jerry Ringer.

“I was more than willing to lead this effort knowing that my class would come through,” added Ringer, a Mount Vernon native.

The bulk of the gift will help fund the planned renovation of the exterior of King Chapel, the 127-year-old centerpiece of Cornell’s historic campus. The renovation of the chapel will include the shoring up of the walls, replacement of the roof, repairs to the clock and clock tower, and the addition of an elevator. The remaining portion of the Class of 1959 reunion gift will go toward the annual fund to directly support the student experience.

“King Chapel is the very heart of our campus. It has served as a gathering place for students, faculty, and community members for over 125 years, and has played host to historic speeches ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. and Frank Lloyd Wright and memorable performances by the likes of the Chicago Symphony and others,” said Peter Wilch, vice president for alumni and college advancement. “The Class of 1959 gift will help to ensure that students for generations to come will have the same experiences, and we are grateful for their tremendous generosity during an important milestone in their lives.”

The Class of 1959 gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit www.cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The Smiths, who have donated millions to Cornell over the years, are at the forefront of “Block by Block,” a program aimed squarely at speeding up neighborhood recovery in flood-damaged areas of the Cedar Valley. The program was recently featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

According to the article: “By Christmas, Block by Block will have mobilized most homeowners on eight flood-damaged city blocks to agree to finishing work on their houses. Heavy lifting will come from $1.9 million in cash donations, $100,000 or more in donated materials, and countless hours of volunteer help.”

The heavy lifting on the $1.9 million is being done by the Smiths, who are contributing $1 million to the effort that came about when the couple approached Jim Ernst, president/CEO of Four Oaks about doing more the hasten the recovery.

The Block by Block program, despite its name evoking the Cornell Block Plan, is not actually affiliated with John Smith’s alma mater. Like Cornell, however, the program has Methodist ties, as it was largely founded by The Rev. Clint Twedt-Ball, a Methodist minister who runs a non-profit neighborhood effort called Matthew 25.

More information on Block by Block can be found at www.blockbyblockcr.org or by calling (319) 350-2252.

Stoll and her husband William have donated $200,000 to Cornell in support of the Pre-Law Program she helped create and to help fund The Commons renovation project.

“I believe completely that I would not be the person I am and have had the success that I have if not for my experiences at Cornell College,” said Stoll, an attorney for Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLC in Columbus, Ohio.

The bulk of the gift will go toward renovations of the campus’ central hub, The Commons. Renovations to The Commons will increase the building size by 28 percent to accommodate enrollment growth and modern student life activities. The plans call for sweeping changes to the building’s upper-level entryway, along with a two-story addition on the back. The Orange Carpet, Cornell’s popular epicenter, will remain the focus of The Commons.

Stoll, a Waterloo native, was the first in her family to graduate from college and found herself right at home at Cornell. She had an early interest in law, but went into elementary education upon graduation. While she loved teaching, she decided she wanted more, and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Iowa. Still, she credits Cornell and the many people who touched her life there with giving her the confidence to challenge herself to reach beyond what she might have otherwise achieved.

Renderings of The Commons project from the north (left) and south (right). Click either photo to view a larger image.

“I think that opening one’s mind to infinite possibilities is what liberal arts is all about,” said Stoll. “I didn’t understand that for several years, even after graduating. It takes some time to look back and really appreciate your liberal arts education.”

Stoll’s gift will also fund, in part, the current Pre-Law Program she helped launch in 2005. The Cornell College Pre-Law Program guides and prepares students in all major fields for successful admission to law school and careers in the legal profession.  The program also supports Cornell’s Mock Trial team, which, in only its third year, qualified for the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament this past spring.

“The Pre-Law Program would not be what it is today without Sheryl’s initiative, leadership and guidance,” said President Les Garner.  “This gift exemplifies Sheryl and Bill’s commitment to the college.  We are fortunate to have their support.”

The Stolls’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The funds will be used to enhance integration of existing courses, develop field courses in Latin America, help introduce new courses, and to create a capstone course for environmental studies majors. In the past year environmental studies has received nearly $1 million in gifts and grants from donors such as the Cornell College Class of 1958 and the Margaret A. Cargill foundation.

“Environmental Studies emphasizes the links between fields of study.  Geologists, biologists, and chemists need to understand how intertwined political and economic forces are with science, just as policy makers need to appreciate the complexities of the systems on which environmental policy is built,” said geology professor Rhawn Denniston. “This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will go a long way toward advancing our ability to help our majors make these connections.”

Environmental studies is a rapidly-growing interdisciplinary program founded at Cornell by geology professor and alumnus Herb Hendriks. The program was one of the first in the nation when it was formed in 1975. Environmental studies stresses sustainability across multiple disciplines-from politics to geology to English to biology.

“Environmental studies at Cornell is a program with extraordinary potential. It typifies what a liberal arts education should look like,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “We are grateful for the generosity of the Mellon Foundation and for the Foundation’s recognition of the excellence of Cornell’s environmental studies program.”

The Mellon Foundation grant is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Hughes has been a longtime supporter of Cornell, giving steadily for years. He said he had always planned to give back to Cornell in a big way.

“Cornell’s always had a special meaning to me for what it gave me and for my start on my life after school,” said Hughes. “I gave so that others can enjoy the same experience that I enjoyed.”

Hughes, a former basketball player under Paul Maaske, added that he felt it was important to give now, when the needs of the college were the greatest.

“We really cannot thank Jim enough for his generosity. He’s always been a strong supporter of Cornell and of the Rams,” said Director of Athletics John Cochrane, who added that Hughes’ gift is responsible for the recent aesthetic enhancements to the downstairs arena and to the Main Gym in the Sport Center.

Hughes, who grew up on a farm near Iowa City, retired recently from Equitable Life Insurance Society of the United States, where he spent his entire career after being recruited on Cornell’s campus.

Hughes’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The gift will provide funding for Cornell’s environmental studies program.

“This is an exceptional gift from an exceptional foundation,” said Peter Wilch, vice president for alumni and college advancement at Cornell. “The Cargill foundation’s generosity will allow us to expand a distinctive environmental studies program to a level envisioned by its founder, Herb Hendriks.”

Margaret A. Cargill was the granddaughter of William Cargill, who co-founded Cargill Inc., one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies. Cargill donated much of her wealth to charity, and provided that, upon her death, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation would support causes dear to her, including environmental studies.

The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation gift comes during Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The donor wished the gift to remain anonymous, but encourages other alumni and friends to step forward during this crucial juncture in the college’s history. As an unrestricted gift, the $100,000 will be utilized for the greatest needs of the college.

“Given the effect the nation’s economy has had on so many friends and alumni of the Hilltop the significance of this gift cannot be stated enough,” said Peter Wilch, vice president for alumni and college advancement. “This is a very generous response to the current crisis and will help to ensure that Cornell will continue to offer our students an exceptional education.”

This gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

The Durhams are both Cornell graduates of the late 1970s, just over 10 years after The Commons opened. Now, 30 years later, the couple saw a need to upgrade the center that not only serves as a student hang out and dining hall, but as a gathering place for events, visitors, and education.

“In visiting potential colleges with our youngest son, we realized the unique role that a student center plays in the life of a college. The student center serves as the ‘front-door’ of a college,” said Durham. “While The Commons continues to serve Cornell in this role, we are pleased that our contribution will enable Cornell to restore and renew The Commons.”

Tom Durham has been a Chicago-area lawyer for almost 29 years, and is a partner at Mayer Brown LLP. His wife Martha was ordained a Deacon in 2008 and serves St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Park Ridge, Ill.

“We are truly thankful to have friends like Tom and Martha Durham,” said Cornell President Les Garner. “Their generous gift will help us strengthen The Commons’ role as a campus and community center.”

The Durham’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Garner posits that the new economic reality facing the country will have lasting impact, on Cornell and on the nation. Working within that framework will take the support of alumni, friends, faculty, and staff alike. The message also addresses the specific changes Cornell will take in order to meet these pressing challenges.

Message to the Cornell Community
March 2009

Several months ago I wrote to you about the college’s well-being in these challenging times. It is clear that we are facing a recession unlike any we have encountered in decades. In this letter I report on the continuing impact of the downturn on the institution and the steps we are taking to ensure the viability of the college.

Like every other institution of higher learning, Cornell is facing a new economic reality. Our endowment declined by 30 percent during 2008, and current giving to the annual fund is, to date, lower than expected. Together, endowment income and annual giving account for 24 percent of our 2008-09 operating budget.

Applications for next year are strong, and student retention appears to be on a par with recent years. However, even if we meet our enrollment goals, we expect that our operating revenue will be no greater than in the current year. We have announced an increase of tuition and fees of 5.75 percent, which, with a modest increase in enrollment, is only enough to make up for the loss in endowment income and for needed increases in financial assistance. To accommodate other increases in costs, many of which are beyond our control, we anticipate making reductions in the range of 3-5 percent in most areas of the budget.

As we make these difficult choices, our commitment to the quality of teaching and learning on campus remains strong. The education of our students will always be our first priority. To the extent that we are able to strengthen the quality of teaching, for example in the addition of two new members of the full-time faculty, we are doing so by making reductions in other areas.

I am encouraged by the fact that the Extraordinary Opportunities Campaign continues to make progress toward its goal of $92 million. The pace of that progress has slowed in recent months. We now have $87 million in commitments and believe that we can reach our goal by the target date of December 2009. Many of the gifts to the endowment have been pledged to be paid in future years, giving us the opportunity to benefit from the recovery in the financial markets.

We continue to make progress on major facility projects funded through the campaign. Students moved into a renovated Pfeiffer Hall in January, and work is under way on the renovation of Rood House. Additions and renovations to The Commons will not be undertaken until we have pledges to cover the costs of the project and sufficient cash in hand to minimize the impact on the operating budget of any interim financing.

I believe that the financial plans we are developing in concert with the Board of Trustees will allow us to emerge from this crisis as a strong institution. Our commitment to our students will not waver, but we will need the continuing support of the full range of our alumni and friends to sustain that commitment. Thank you for all that you do for this wonderful institution.

Les Garner
President

For more information on how you can help, visit our giving page.

The McGranes both graduated from Cornell in 1973. John is a partner with the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Washington, D.C., where he specializes in energy law. John has been a member of the Cornell College Board of Trustees for seven years and is vice chair of the business affairs committee. Marty was a member of the Cornell College Alumni Board for five years in the 1990s. More recently she was a member of the Campaign Committee that helped plan Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell.

“We are very happy to be able to contribute to Cornell, and particularly to these worthwhile efforts,” said John McGrane. “Les and Katrina Garner have graciously opened the President’s House to students, faculty, and alumni and have made it a focal point of the Cornell community. The house needs renovation and expansion to continue the Garners’ efforts. Cornell must also grow if it is to thrive, and the acquisition of property adjacent to the campus will assist Cornell in meeting future needs.”

The McGranes’ gift will fund $250,000 worth of improvements and renovations to the Cornell College President’s House. The remainder is directed to the Extraordinary Opportunities Campaign, the prelaw program, and the purchase of property adjacent to the Cornell campus.

“John and Marty McGrane have been generous with both their time and resources in support of Cornell,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “This latest gift is an example of that generosity. We are grateful for their longstanding service and commitment to Cornell.”

The McGranes’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Garner stresses that the college’s core values will not change in the face of national economic instability. Furthermore, he states that, while the college may be faced with difficult challenges ahead, “our commitment to teaching, learning, and the liberal arts will not waver. With the confidence and support of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, this institution has overcome greater challenges than the current crisis, and together we can overcome this challenge as well.”

The text of the letter follows:

Message to the Cornell Community
November 2008

Recent global economic upheaval has raised concerns for all of us regarding personal and institutional well- being. I want to assure you that the President’s Council and Board of Trustees are monitoring the situation closely and are taking steps to ensure the stability of the college’s financial base and sustain the quality of our programs. While not immune to turmoil in the financial markets, Cornell College is positioned to weather the current crisis if we carefully steward our resources.

First, we are making every effort to help students and families finance their education. Last spring we restructured the financial assistance packages of 200 returning students in response to problems in the student loan market. We also are working closely with our entering students to ensure their ability to attend Cornell.

In the recent past we have experienced steady growth in enrollment. Enrollment is up over previous years, and applications for next fall are ahead of last year at this time. Admission is redoubling its efforts to engage a large pool of prospects and to recruit another strong class of students. Our Admission staff needs the support of the entire community to make certain these efforts bear fruit. Retention of current students is also crucial. By national standards, Cornell’s retention rate is high, and we must strive to retain this by providing extraordinary opportunities that keep our students engaged. In the coming years the retention of our student body will be that much more important, not only for the good of the students, but for the health of the college.

In recent years Cornell has enjoyed strong performance in endowment earnings. However, like many of our peers, we have experienced a downturn in our endowment levels this fall. As a revenue stream, the endowment provides just less than 10 percent of our operating budget, but these losses will have an impact on the campus.

We have taken and are taking steps to minimize this impact. In the spring we refinanced our debt in order to reduce our annual debt service payments. We plan to control and reduce spending for the remainder of the year and the following year, striving to do so with minimal effect on the student experience.

As part of the Extraordinary Opportunities campaign, we are completing capital projects that are fully funded by donations restricted for those buildings. Because of gifts earmarked for Pfieffer Hall, the Luce Admission Center at Wade House, and the Paul Scott Alumni Center at Rood House, those projects are either completed, in process, or soon to start. We continue to raise funds for The Commons and King Chapel.

Though the immediate future may be fraught with difficulty, the state of the college is strong, and our commitment to teaching, learning, and the liberal arts will not waver. With the confidence and support of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, this institution has overcome greater challenges than the current crisis, and together we can overcome this challenge as well.

Les Garner
President

The gift honors long-time geology professor Herb Hendriks, who started one of the first environmental studies programs in the country at Cornell in 1975. The gift is being coordinated by lead donors Gib Drendel and John Mark Dean.

“There is a very great need for people who are informed about all aspects of the environment—political, social, economic, and environmental—and that’s why we set up this program,” said Hendriks. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the Class of 1958 gift. That gift is going to go a long, long way toward ensuring the program continues.”

“We need to ensure that, in the future, there will be people to look at the problem from all angles. Our environmental problems won’t go away, they’ll only increase, so it’s essential to keep student research and this program strong,” he added.

The bulk of the gift will endow the Cornell College Environmental Studies Program, a course of study that stresses sustainability across multiple disciplines—from politics to chemistry to geology and sociology. The other portion will fund a scholarship open to any junior or senior engaged in environmental studies, regardless of major.

Herb Hendriks, himself a 1940 graduate of Cornell, taught geology at Cornell from 1947 to 1983. He became interested in the sustainability of natural resources as early as the 1940s, and was finally able to offer that course in the 1960s. In 1975, he founded and directed the Cornell College Environmental Studies program—one of the first in the country and the first in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. He currently lives in the Methwick Community in Cedar Rapids

“It is extremely important that we have students who can examine environmental issues carefully and look at them from different angles, perhaps even more important than when Herb founded the program in 1975,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “The Class of 1958 gift is an enduring way for Cornell to strengthen an already distinct program.”

The Class of 1958 gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit www.cornellcollege.edu/campaign or contact Peter Wilch, Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement at 319-895-4315 or pwilch@cornellcollege.edu.

Lee and Dorothy Whitson, whose son Frank Whitson graduated from Cornell in 1970, established the Frank N. Whitson Memorial Scholarship Fund after the death of their only child in 1974.

“Lee and Dorothy Whitson appreciated their college educations and believed in the value of education at all levels,” said Dianne Polasik, who was engaged to Frank at the time of his death and considered the Whitsons a second family. “Their gift to Cornell is in memory of a much loved son who valued his Cornell College experience and fulfills their desire that others will have the same opportunity.”

Frank Whitson graduated from Cornell with a degree in economics and went on to attend graduate school at the University of Iowa in hospital administration. His father, Lee, was involved in Boy Scouts and owned WR Medical Electronics Co., a medical device manufacturer in St. Paul, Minn., until his death in 2002.

Frank’s mother, Dorothy, was an executive officer for the Camp Fire Girls in New York and Minnesota and worked for the American Red Cross overseas during World War II. She continued her volunteerism throughout her life. She died on Aug. 13, 2008.

The gift will supplement the scholarship fund established in 1974, which has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to worthy students with need. The estate gift will allow Cornell to provide even more extraordinary scholarships to students.

“We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dorothy Whitson, who has been a friend of the college ever since her son Frank came to the Hilltop,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “This extraordinary gift honors not only Frank, but Dorothy and Lee as well. Generations of Cornellians will receive their education thanks to the generosity of the entire Whitson family.”

The Whitson’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

Jordan is an honorary alumnus of Cornell who began his career at Cornell in 1966. He was granted emeritus status in 2002 and has remained active on campus.

The bulk of the gift will fund the chaplain endowment, with the remaining $10,000 used to supplement the annual fund and purchase wireless headphones for the hearing impaired for King Chapel, the primary venue for campus speakers and performances. The idea for wireless headphones came from local videographer Dean Traver, who let Jordan borrow a pair during a recent performance.

“I finally figured out the solution to my problem was to donate headphones to Cornell so that I and others with a similar problem would be able to take advantage of the wonderful public presentations Cornell offers to the community,” said Jordan.

Jordan added that the support for the chaplain fund was a way to honor his father and mother.

“Neither of my parents had the opportunity to be college students, but if they had, I am sure they would have found the chaplain’s work to be important to them,” said Jordan. “This gift provides the perfect way for me to honor them in a manner that I know is meaningful to them.”

Jordan said that, during his over 40 years at Cornell, the Chaplain’s office, first through The Rev. Dr. Richard H. Thomas and now The Rev. Quehl-Engel, has always been a strong source of leadership in the community.

“We cannot thank Truman and Linda enough for their dedication to Cornell,” said Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement Peter Wilch. “It is humbling to think of all the wonderful things the Jordans have done on campus and as part of the community over the past 42 years, and after these many contributions they have chosen to give a generous gift to Cornell at a crucial time. The college is fortunate to have friends like the Jordans.”

The Jordans’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

Charles Warden and his wife both graduated from Cornell in 1941. Charles went on to a successful career in law and real estate.

The gift will fund the Ruth Ohlsen Warden Memorial Elevator in King Chapel.

“Cornell means a great deal to me. My wife and I were classmates, and I wanted something solid that would represent her and her memory. I wanted something physical and permanent. I couldn’t build a chapel, but I thought I’d do that,” said Warden.

Warden was a fighter pilot in WW II. He retired in 1980 from Western Federal Savings as a senior vice president, and served as a municipal judge, a lawyer, and director of the Federal Housing Administration for the state of Colorado. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa.

“We’re thankful for Charles’ generous donation,” said Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement Peter Wilch. “The improvements to historic King Chapel are a centerpiece of our campus renovations, and this gift will ensure accessibility for all to the many important events and speakers King Chapel hosts.”

Charles Warden’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

Lois Wilkinson Sieben, a 1938 graduate of Cornell, learned to play the organ and the piano at the college, and went on to become a church organist and piano teacher.

King Chapel will be undergoing renovations and repairs as part of a campus-wide refurbishing of the campus, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in its entirety. The chapel has a long history of hosting famous visitors, from Martin Luther King Jr., to Antonin Scalia, to, recently, George Stephanopoulos.

But to Sieben, the history of King Chapel is so much more personal.

“I’m grateful that I was able to do this. The chapel has meant a lot to me,” Sieben says. “I spent so much time in King Chapel and at the organ. My husband gave my diamond ring to me in the chapel in April of my senior year.”

The gift will cover $30,000 in immediate organ repairs, while the remaining $100,000 will be used for King Chapel renovations.

“We’re grateful for Lois’ generous gift,” said Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement Peter Wilch. “King Chapel is the centerpiece of our campus, and her gift will help ensure it continues to serve as a gathering place for our community for generations to come.”

The Lois Sieben’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

The Annual Fund, the yearly fund that directly and immediately impacts the lives of students, faculty, and staff, raised a record $2.28 million for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The final amount reflects the highest total amount raised for the Annual Fund to date, as well as the highest per-donor amount in the college’s history.

“The giving from our young alumni has been a strong part of our success this year,” said Trish Kohl, who in her first year directing the Annual Fund, helped shepherd the fundraising to its highest total in Cornell history. “Their commitment to Cornell sends a positive message about the quality of their education and the momentum of the college.”

Cornell was also pleased to announce 4,487 total donors, from parents to alumni to friends of the college. The average donation from all individuals rose nearly five percent, and the average alumni gift also rose more than five percent over last year.

“I am humbled by the tremendous generosity from friends and alumni of Cornell College. Against the backdrop of a sagging economy this has been another record-setting year for the annual fund, and it’s a credit to the value Cornell has created in so many lives and the hard work of our dedicated staff,” said Vice President for Alumni and College Advancement Peter Wilch. “There are many charities our alumni and friends choose to support and I am grateful so many count Cornell as a priority for their philanthropy.”

Dick Brubaker, a 1955 graduate and the founder of Richwrap Inc., is in his third year as chair of the Cornell College board of trustees, and his 11^th overall.

“This campaign is one of the most important events in the history of the college,” said Brubaker. “It is deserving of my support and my wife’s.”

After graduating from Cornell in 1955, Brubaker returned to the school for four years to work as an admission counselor. In 1964 he went back to school, earning his MBA from the University of Iowa before finding his way into the gift wrap industry. From there, he founded Richwrap in 1970, a company that manufactures and distributes gift wrap specialties, especially for the industrial gift market. His wife, Beth, graduated from Cornell in 1961.

The largest portion of the gift will increase the Cornell College endowment and annual funds. The remainder of the gift will supplement the Class of 1955 Travel Fund for off-campus study, the Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Fund, and renovations and expansions to Cornell’s wrestling and weight rooms.

“We are extremely thankful to Dick and Beth for their financial commitment to our campaign and for their service to Cornell,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “Their gift demonstrates the leadership and vision they bring to our mission and will impact students for years to come.”

The Brubakers’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

“The Democratic race right now is over,” he told the crowd of 850 during the Delta Phi Rho Lecture. “I think that Tuesday night was the decisive tipping point. Mathematically … it’s simply not possible for Sen. Clinton to catch Sen. Obama.”

TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING, CLICK HERE.

But he didn’t think it was over for Sen. Clinton. A “dream team” ticket of Obama-Clinton, he said, has powerful logic and would make history by placing the first African-American and the first woman in the White House.

One way or another, he said, they were headed toward an historic election.

“You’re either going to have the first woman president,” said Stephanopoulos, “the first African-American president, or the first president to get elected at a time when he would defy every historical
indicator.”

The biggest barrier to choosing Sen. Clinton as a running mate is her husband. Stephanopoulos said he was only half joking when he suggested Obama could make Bill Clinton “ambassador to everything” to keep him out of the way. Better yet, the former president could be given discreet tasks as an envoy, he said.

Sen. Clinton may need to pull out within two weeks, Stephanopoulos said, but she has never lost a race and that it is “a difficult process to wrap her head around.”

While both Obama and Clinton set records for voter turnout, Obama has run a better campaign. He has raised more money and is the first primary candidate to successfully use the Internet for fundraising and
communication. He also “learned from his mistakes,” which is a good quality in a presidential candidate, Stephanopoulos said.

Asked if Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses are secure, Stephanopoulos said yes. “You got more states involved-you couldn’t have done better.”

Over the course of the 40-minute speech, Stephanopoulos broke down the successful and not so successful strategies of both candidates, offering insight into a primary season that has been hard to grasp.

“This is a year,” said Stephanopoulos, “where fundamentally people will be voting for change.”

“Whoever takes office on January 20, 2009 is going to face an array of challenges unlike any president who’s walked into the Oval Office since Franklin Roosevelt,” he said.

A former high school and college wrestler, Stephanopoulos praised Cornell’s wrestling heritage, and said he was at home in the 1882 chapel, being the son, grandson, nephew and godson of Greek Orthodox priests.

Previous Delt Lecture speakers have been Bob Woodward and Fareed Zakaria. The series is funded by an endowment that originated with a group of early 1960s Delt alumni who wanted to leave a legacy as part of
the 1998 Delt centennial celebration. The fund now stands at $600,000, and due to the overwhelming success of the lectures, the Delts have pledged to bring the endowment to $1 million in order to ensure a Delt Lecture annually.

“I view this as an opportunity to give back to Cornell a portion of what they gave me in education, experience and growth,” said Russell of Pentwater, Mich.

Russell earned her Ph.D. in biology from Rice University in 1971. From then until 1993, she worked at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., teaching and researching. She contributed significant work to bone and calcium research and was able to extend many of the medical principles concerning growth and repair in the skeleton.

Half of the $2 million deferred gift will endow the Jean E. Russell Chair in Molecular Biology as part of Cornell College’s Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare programs. The other $1 million is unrestricted.

“We are grateful for Jean’s gift and for her support of Cornell,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “Her generous gift will have a lasting impact on the biology program, as well as the entire campus.”

Russell’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

Luce, of Englewood, Colo., connected with Cornell when his daughter Lynn was drawn to Cornell’s One-Course-At-A-Time calendar. Luce served Cornell as a trustee when Lynn began at Cornell in 1989. He became a life trustee in 2003, and received honorary alum status in 1995 with his wife, Betsy.

“I’ve always been an admirer of One-Course-At-A-Time,” said Luce. “It’s not only the best innovation in higher education in a long time, it’s the only one.”

Luce’s patronage of Cornell College has long created extraordinary opportunities for Cornell, its students and prospective students. Starting in the 1990s, Luce personally flew high school counselors to visit Cornell on his twin engine prop jet. When Luce completed his three terms as a trustee, the son of Time Magazine founder Henry Luce was recognized by the Luce Foundation, which gave Cornell $1 million to fund and endow the Peter Paul Luce Gallery.

“Mr. Luce has been a long-time supporter of the college’s student recruitment program,” said Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Jonathan Stroud. “He understands the importance of a professional and attractive facility for receiving prospective students and their families.”

The expansion and renovation of the Peter Paul Luce Admission Center will enhance the professional work environment for staff and will create a more inviting reception area for visitors. New offices will be built and the reception space will double in size to provide a more attractive and comfortable space for receiving visitors and interviewing students.

“Peter is a loyal friend of Cornell, and this gift is another demonstration of his support for the College and for our admission program,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “We are extremely grateful for his commitment to this important project.”

Peter Paul Luce’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

DePrenger, a former teacher and wrestling coach, was a four-time conference champion wrestler at Cornell and is a member of Cornell’s Athletics Hall of Fame. He has continually funded Cornell’s Matman Invitational, a yearly wrestling tournament that regularly attracts Iowa’s best wrestlers. His latest gift is not restricted to athletics and will be used for the highest needs of the college.

“I wanted to help the college,” said DePrenger. “The wrestling, the academics and the size of Cornell all fit me very well.”

DePrenger started Matman Wrestling in his home in Iowa in 1969 by making uniforms on his own four sewing machines. Since then, Matman has grown internationally to equip Olympic teams since 1998, including the U.S. and teams in more than 30 other nations as well. DePrenger and his wife, Jayne, are also the primary sponsors of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa.

“We’re grateful for Warren’s gift and his long-standing support of Cornell and Ram athletics,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “Our wrestling program would not be where it is today without his support, and this gift will be just as transformative for the rest of the campus.”

Warren DePrenger’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

The funds will be used to purchase cell culture equipment, a gel documentation system, an atomic absorption spectrometer, and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer.

“The way we teach is different today. We need the most recent equipment to keep up with new technology so that our students get the best liberal arts education possible,” said Cornell Professor of Biology Craig Tepper, “This grant is a significant step in creating an environment that attracts top science students and faculty to Cornell.”

The new equipment will be used in all levels of coursework and will actively enhance student-faculty research, allowing the department to further integrate biology and chemistry while simultaneously providing open-ended, hands-on laboratory opportunities for students.

“The Carver Trust has a longstanding interest in science education and institutions of higher learning in Iowa,” said Lynne Sasmazer, Program Director for the Trust, “Our board of trustees is very pleased to make this award to Cornell College, in keeping with the Trust’s mission to foster ongoing improvement in quality academic programs for the benefit of youth in our state.”

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is the largest private philanthropic foundation in the state of Iowa. Biomedical and scientific research; primary, secondary and higher education; and other issues related to the needs of youth are the program areas of greatest interest to the Carver Charitable Trust.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust,” commented Cornell College President Les Garner. “This grant will have a profound impact on the teaching and learning experience at Cornell College by providing access to state of the art scientific tools.”

This grant from the Carver Trust will count as part of the comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College, which concludes in December 2009. The campaign seeks to enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

John Lively, a 1955 Cornell graduate and longtime volunteer, said he wanted to give something back to Cornell College, and to others who knew the heart of central Iowa as he did.

“The spark for my idea came from a long-time banker, Fred Gilbert, in my hometown of State Center, Iowa, who, when he died, gave a scholarship to Cornell College,” said Lively. “Like him, I wanted to leave something to my alma mater, and to the town where I grew up.”

After graduating from Cornell and leaving the Army, Lively worked for five years at KFJB radio in Marshalltown, before spending three years at WHO in Des Moines. He then spent the next 28 years in public relations working for 3M in St. Paul, Minn. and in New York City, before retiring in 1994. Currently, he lives in Edina, Minn., and Palm Springs, Calif.

“ Central Iowa will always be special to me. I worked summers there in radio while I was in college and full-time in news after that,” he said. “It was radio for what we called the ‘Heart of Iowa.’ So I decided to open up a Cornell College scholarship to the surrounding counties, to anyone who could hear KFJB radio.”

The scholarship will provide aid to students from West Marshall High School – the successor to the school from which Lively graduated – or to students from other high schools in and around Marshall County with an interest in English, business or economics.

“We are extremely grateful to John for his generous financial commitment to this campaign and his longstanding service to the Hilltop,” said Cornell College President Les Garner. “This gift will enable Cornell to make important strides toward building the College’s endowment and will benefit Cornellians for generations to come.”

John Lively’s gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College which will continue through December 2009. The campaign will enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, visit cornellcollege.edu/campaign.

The Class of 1957 Endowed Scholarship Fund was established with donations from 81 class members, representing almost two-thirds of the full class list. Over $140,000 was raised for the scholarship.

“The entire class was proud to participate, to provide an ongoing scholarship in our name, which will allow some deserving Cornell student to be partially funded in their education,” said Galen Kruger ’57, chair of the gift committee. “ Cornell College provided the members of our class the wherewithal to enable our success in business and in life, and we’re pleased to give back to the college and the student body.”

The Steering Committee included Kruger, Chair, Donna Mease Nicholson, and Bob Majors.

The full 50 th reunion committee included Donna Mease Nicholson, Bob Majors, Bob Kemper and Margie Klontz Kemper, Bob Morrison, John Roehr, Dick Fleener, Merron Seron, Janet Miller Stacy, Carol Getty Brodsky, Galen Kruger, Barbara Solma Verdoorn, Mark Johnson, Clyde Perlenfein, Norman Stephenson, Shirley Lincoln Maves, Beth Seydel Engel, Nancy Hovet Lundstrom, Robert Morrison, Bill Yeisley, and Dick Potter.

“We’re pleased the members of the class of 1957 value their education at Cornell so highly, and we’re grateful they recognized how important such an education is to future generations through their overwhelming participation in endowing an ongoing scholarship,” said Cornell President Les Garner.