What are your aspirations for Drake University?
How does Drake’s reputation affect you and the value of your degree?

The answer to these questions is personal. However, when answered by more than 65,000 alumni they have a strong, collective, and defining impact.

Drake recently completed a strategic planning process, which outlines how we plan to accomplish our vision to serve as a model institution of higher education and innovatively address the challenges of the 21st century. While there are multiple indicators of our progress toward making our ambitions a reality, there are others that convey a more challenging path.

Without tiptoeing around the issue, Drake’s vision requires resources. It is my hope that we can engage in an honest exchange regarding Drake and the leadership role alumni play in providing financial and inspirational support.

One of the great privileges of my job is visiting with alumni, and during these visits, a high percentage share with me their affection and hopes for Drake, our faculty, and our students. Recent survey findings tell us that more than 80 percent of our alumni have favorable to very favorable feelings toward their Drake experience. For many of our alumni these sentiments develop into active volunteer engagement and transformational philanthropic support, and we are deeply appreciative of that.

However, our alumni’s passion for Drake does not always translate into annual giving. Approximately 12 percent of graduates make a gift to Drake during the fiscal year, which is below the level of giving at other Midwestern colleges and universities:

• Creighton University–19 percent
• Butler University–23 percent
• Northwestern University–29 percent
• DePauw University–31 percent
• Carlton College–58 percent

What do these alumni participation rates say about each institution? These colleges and universities are communities defined by a sense of shared ownership and collective responsibility. They reflect a culture where alumni are enthusiastic and proud to be part of something larger than themselves.

Drake is a remarkable community, which leads me to ask two questions: Why is there a significant gap between alumni giving participation and positive feelings toward the Drake experience? What will it take for Drake to develop a culture where financial participation is embraced as a meaningful opportunity to define Drake’s future?

These are big questions with answers that have significant impact on our shared aspirations. I welcome your ideas related to alumni engagement and participation or comments about why you give to Drake. Please let me know your thoughts by email at philanthropy@drake.edu.

In closing, I know that many of you love Drake University. As we move toward our vision for the University through distinctlyDrake, it is time to transform our shared affection into a culture where everyone feels a sense of ownership and commitment to Drake’s promising future. Drake can make real its vision when we all work toward common goals. Your participation matters. You matter.

Thank you for your engagement in the life of Drake and your constructive feedback.

—John Smith, AS’92, GR’00, Vice President for Alumni and Development

The two-story facility connects the Cline Hall of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with Harvey Ingham Hall and contains space for faculty offices and the large Hy-Vee Student Learning Commons. The commons, on the first floor of the atrium, is technologically advanced and outfitted to enhance creativity, team building, and collaboration. It includes room for individual and group presentation preparation. The open area will also serve as a venue for CPHS and campuswide events.

The project was made possible by a number of gifts to distinctlyDrake, including a leadership-level gift of $3 million from Morgan E. Cline, ph’53; along with support from Hy-Vee, Inc.; and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.

The sciences are a top priority of distinctlyDrake. Contact John P. Smith, vice president for alumni and development, at 515-271-2969 or john.smith@drake.edu for information on transformational gifts to the sciences.

“I was impressed by her passion,” Allen says. “I saw her intensity and her excitement that showed she loved the piano and music. She was thankful for the new piano, and I was thankful for her talent. Watching her play gave me faith in Drake’s music program.”

Through Keys to Excellence, a fundraising effort that is part of distinctlyDrake, the University plans to replace 68 of its 100 pianos and has already received the funding to purchase 11 new pianos. But the initiative is about more than replacing instruments that are beyond repair. Having high-quality pianos will enable Drake to attract high-caliber music students and faculty, and it will allow current students to pursue their passion for music with instruments that reflect the excellence of the University’s music programs.

The fundraising effort has a broad impact. Every music student, regardless of major, completes four semesters of piano instruction. Additionally, Drake hosts numerous performances throughout the year that are free and open to the community. New pianos will enhance these performances to the benefit of all.

Contact Doug Lampe, major gift officer, at 515-271-3055 or doug.lampe@drake.edu for more information on the Keys to Excellence fundraising effort.

This support came first in the form of a presidential scholarship and next as a recipient of the Lou Ann Simpson Scholarship.

“As a student paying for my own college education, I can’t express what this kind of generosity means to me,” McGuire says. “It is because of the generous scholarships I have received that my Drake education has become much more affordable.”

McGuire says the Lou Ann Simpson Scholarship is particularly meaningful to her, because Simpson, professor of business law, is an important mentor and role model—a sentiment echoed by one of the scholarship’s past recipients, Derek Smith, a senior marketing and finance double major.

“It was an incredible honor to receive an award in her name,” Smith says. “Being a Lou Ann Simpson Scholarship recipient helped motivate me to strive to achieve the standard of excellence I know Lou Ann expects from each and every one of her students.”

A former student of Simpson’s started the scholarship fund in recognition of the education he received in her classes.

“I think that is one of the greatest honors you can have,” says Simpson, BN’66, LW’68. “It’s so nice when students say ‘thank you,’ but to have one do something that will provide opportunities for students in the future, I think that is as good as it gets.”

Simpson says she has felt a strong connection with the University since she arrived as a first-year student in 1962. That passion for Drake has only grown since she began teaching business law in 1973.

“For me, it’s very satisfying to see how students grow and mature and start to succeed and prepare themselves for their futures,” she says. “That is what I love about teaching. We attract good students here, and they are a joy to teach.”

Her love of teaching led Simpson to begin to contribute to the scholarship created in her honor, and as part of distinctlyDrake, she has left a significant portion of her estate to the scholarship fund—a planned gift that will magnify the impact of the Lou Ann Simpson Scholarship and make a Drake education affordable for students for generations to come. “I just have a warm feeling that I can help students succeed well into the future,” she says. “I wanted to provide students with educational opportunities, because when you see students succeed, that’s the best feeling in the world.”

Leaving a bequest is simple. It can be made by inserting a few sentences into a valid will or trust. A bequest also provides flexibility: You can give a specific amount or item or a percentage of your estate. You also have the option to make the gift contingent on certain events, and you can make changes to your gift at any time. (Consult your attorney about laws specific to your state.)

Visit www.alumni.drake.edu/give to learn more or contact Sarah Pritchard, director of planned giving, at 515-271-4069 or sarah.pritchard@drake.edu with questions about naming Drake University in your will or living trust.

Despite my financial situation, however, I didn’t mind that solicitation—but there were other recent graduates who were not as understanding. Many of my peers were irritated that the school in which they had invested so much over the years had reached out to them for money so soon after graduation. And as a recent grad myself with monthly student loan bills starting to arrive in my mailbox, I understand this.

To say that our generation has a complicated relationship with paying for college is an understatement. I think many of us feel like we’ve paid twice for our education—once when the tuition bills arrived and again when our student loan payments began.

The reality is that the tuition we pay is not a donation to Drake but a payment in exchange for a service received—our education. Our student loan payments do not support Drake; they’re going straight to the lender. And while it may seem to some as if they’ve already paid their dues to Drake, tuition costs don’t come close to covering what the University provides to students.

If Drake provided you with an exemplary education—if it provided you with the skills you need to survive after college or helped you find your passion or an internship or a job—there is a real cost associated with that. And those benefits you reaped will only become more expensive for future generations. Supporting your university through scholarships can provide financial support to the students who need it most, making it possible for more students to share the life-changing experience you had despite socioeconomic status or financial hardship.

Sometimes we feel that because we are young, we are somehow excused from giving back. Could you spare $5 or $10 each month? Consider giving that to Drake. Additionally, the gift of your time or your expertise is equally valuable—speak to a Drake class about your career, sit down for coffee with a current Drake student, hire a student as an intern. It’s easy to say, “I’ll support Drake when I have more money, more time—when I’m older.” But if you want to be the type of person who contributes your time and financial support to Drake, start being that person now, in any way you can—otherwise, you’ll always find obstacles or special circumstances to stand in your way.

Living in Des Moines, I’ve found plenty of ways to give to Drake: as a guest speaker, as a mentor for current students, as an advisory board member. And this spring I set up a monthly payment plan that allows me to give a little bit each month back to Drake. It’s not much, but when compounded with the gifts of other alumni, even small donations can make a difference. I’m so thankful for the alumni whose support made my own Drake experience possible, and I can think of no better way to show that gratitude than to pay it forward myself.

—Norah Carroll, JO’11, AS’11

Cline Atrium: It’s About Connections

With only a few students on campus, it still was a noisy summer for faculty in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. In June, the University broke ground on the construction of the Morgan E. Cline Atrium, which will join Cline Hall of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with Harvey Ingham Hall and connect hundreds of students to each other and to faculty for social learning opportunities and collaboration.

The atrium is made possible through the leadership and generosity of Morgan E. Cline and gifts from Hy-Vee and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Scheduled for a move-in date of late January 2013, the atrium brings the vision for Drake’s science complex closer to reality.

Sussman Theater Better Serves Bulldogs

When Richard Sussman, LA’51, committed to giving a gift of $1 million to Drake University in honor of his late wife, Lila, he wanted to ensure that it had a direct impact on students and fostered leadership opportunities at the University.

Perhaps no other place on campus fit this requirement as well as the Bulldog Theater in Olmsted Center. The theater is regularly used by students in the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute (DVALI), student organizations, and for presentations and lectures from both students and guest speakers. Additionally, this space often provides the first impression of Drake’s facilities for new and prospective students who visit campus at orientation and through a variety of programs hosted by the Office of Admission.

The space, built in the 1970s, had never been renovated. Its location next to the new students-only Underground Fitness facility provided a stark contrast that made the need for a facelift apparent.

“The way the Bulldog Theater looked and functioned did not really represent the University correctly,” says Paul Secord, director of development.

The newly renovated Lila and Richard Sussman Theater (formerly the Bulldog Theater), however, is more representative of Drake and reflects the University’s commitment to an exceptional learning environment.

Work on the space began in June. The theater was gutted and refitted with new seats and walls, updated with a state-of-the-art audiovisual system, and rewired with new electricity. Additionally, the bathrooms outside the theater were completely remodeled, and the lobby leading into the theater has been modernized, as well. All of this makes for a seamless transition into the modern student fitness center.

The project was completed in September.

In addition to renovating the theater, Sussman’s gift has also been used to create the Sussman Endowment for Leadership, which will support DVALI and create other leadership ventures and opportunities for students.

Sussman has also generously pledged $10,000 per year for the next five years to sponsor the fall and spring DVALI conferences, which have been renamed in his honor.

After Hours—At Cowles Library?

The venue may be conducive to socializing, but the new After Hours space in Cowles Library is designed for more than idle chitchat. The open floor plan, movable walls, collaboration stations, and portable whiteboards have a purpose: to support social learning strategies.

“The nature of students’ assignments is changing—there are more group projects and collaboration,” says Marc Davis, technology coordinator. “After Hours is a response to changing pedagogies.”

The renovated space is also a response to student feedback.

In 2008, when library staff initiated the creation of a new master plan, they wanted to ensure that the library continued to meet the needs of all campus constituents well into the future. They started the process by soliciting ideas from students, faculty, and staff.

“Students spoke loud and clear to us,” says Rod Henshaw, dean of Cowles Library and professor of librarianship. “Two needs immediately rose to the top: a group study space and a late-night study facility.”

Located on the library’s main level, After Hours incorporates another recent successful renovation: the Cowles Café, which serves coffee drinks and snacks and contributes to the space’s intentionally relaxed atmosphere.

“When students feel welcome and comfortable, they become more engaged in the learning process. This is how social learning environments are linked to academic success—they provide an environment that stimulates learning and promotes collaboration and learning from peers,” says Davis.

Funded by the Cowles and Kruidenier foundations, Drake University Board of Trustees member Mark Ernst, and University allocations, After Hours marks the first step toward realizing the vision for Cowles Library.

Plans for the library’s next phase of renovations, the Upper Commons Project, will start this academic year and involve many members of the campus community. The focus for phase two is engaged learning. Second-floor renovations will include classroom space and new technologies designed for structured learning activities and consultations with librarians.

The third floor (which includes the beloved Reading Room) will continue to be dedicated to individual, quiet study. This ensures that when completed, the library’s master plan will incorporate all learning modalities: social, structured, and solitary.

“The new projects are simply the physical manifestation of what [Cowles] Library has always done, which is to meet the changing needs of Drake students,” says Henshaw.

We NeeDU

Your gift to distinctlyDrake makes a significant difference in the lives of students and the future of the University. Your generosity—whether it comes in the form a one-time $25 donation or a $25,000 endowment—helps ensure the success of current students and allows the University to continue to evolve and confront new challenges in a changing world. Visit www.distinctly.drake.edu to make your contribution and to read about the people and projects that are making a difference.

Bulldog Family Advances distinctlyDrake

Since the public launch of distinctlyDrake two years ago, the University has raised $113.3 million—more than half of its $200 million goal. And while corporations and foundations have made significant contributions to advancing the vision for Drake University, distinctlyDrake is mostly driven by the thousands of members of the Bulldog family.

Strength in Numbers  

Nearly 90 percent of the gifts made to distinctlyDrake are from alumni, trustees, parents, and valued friends (see Source of Gifts chart, p.39). These are the people closest to Drake—the ones who have invested their hearts in the University and who have chosen to invest their dollars as well. They are also the ones who understand that even the smallest gifts make a difference. That a single $100 gift—combined with many other $100, $300, $500, and $1,000 gifts—can elevate the Drake experience to the highest level of excellence for every student, every day.

This is the collective strength of the Bulldog family: individuals coming together to create outstanding results.

The Momentum Builds 

As funds for distinctlyDrake accumulate, so do the opportunities to transform the campus landscape. In recent months, Drake has broken ground on the Morgan E. Cline Atrium and has completed the construction of Cowles Library After Hours, including Cowles Café, and the renovation of Bulldog Theater (see related articles, pgs. 35–37).

Other capital projects completed and funded through distinctlyDrake include Hubbell Dining Hall, Patty and Fred Turner Jazz Center, and several renovations in the science buildings.

As the momentum for distinctlyDrake continues, the focus for capital projects will include the construction of a new Center for Collaborative Learning building which will house the School of Education, renovations and expansions to Cartwright Hall and athletic facilities, additional renovations to Cowles Library, and new construction and renovations in the sciences.

Passion Spurs Opportunities

distinctlyDrake is turning the passion for academic excellence shared throughout the Drake community into extraordinary opportunities for faculty and students. These opportunities are being realized through the development of academic centers, endowed faculty positions, and scholarship funds.

Funded through generous gifts to distinctlyDrake, The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship and the William M. and Jean M. Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership are already providing students with exceptional learning experiences designed to grow their interests and skills and prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world. More than 101 scholarship funds have been created—a huge step toward ensuring that a Drake education is affordable to all highly qualified students. And the six, newly endowed faculty positions will ensure Drake continues to attract and retain the very best faculty now and well into the future.

For the Good of the Pack

More than 20,000 members of the Bulldog family have contributed their time, talent, and financial resources to distinctlyDrake. Like you, they understand what’s at stake— keeping our promise to students: ensuring that every Drake student is provided with the opportunities that come with a stimulating, innovative, and truly exceptional learning experience from which they benefit for the rest of their lives.

You are already part of the promise—now you can help keep it. Give to distinctlyDrake and advance the University toward achieving its vision to be—and be recognized as—one of the best institutions of higher education in the nation.

Alumna Marks 30 Years of Consecutive Giving

Karen Branding, LA’82, has a motto that she likes to share with Drake University students and alumni: “Learn and return.” It means, simply, to learn all you can at Drake—and, once you’ve graduated, return that privilege to the next generation of students by giving a little back.

Branding attended Drake on scholarship, studied public administration, and spent three years as a Resident Assistant in Goodwin-Kirk Residence Hall. Since graduation, she’s created a legacy of 30 straight years of giving. She’s now a member of The Bonnie and Lewis McNurlen Consecutive Giving Society, a recognition program exclusively for Drake’s most loyal alumni donors.

But Branding’s legacy was almost a nonstarter; it took someone older and wiser than she to instill a spirit of philanthropy.

“I remember getting something in the mail right after graduation and telling my mom, ‘I can’t believe Drake is already asking me for money,’” Branding recalls. “My mom wisely said, ‘Karen, now is the time for you to start giving back so the next person can go to Drake on scholarship like you did.’ It changed the way I saw everything.”

Branding’s first gift to Drake was just a few dollars. She’s increased her contribution as she could over the years. In 2002, she created the Branding Resident Assistant Leadership Retreat, an annual retreat for students who serve as supervisors in Drake’s residence halls. She’s also given back to Drake as a member of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“You go through college and you think it’s all about you,” Branding says. “But then you get out of college and realize, ‘I’m part of a larger world. I have to give back.’ It’s because of Drake that I am who I am and that I went on to have a very robust career. Learn and return.”

Visit www.distinctly.drake.edu to read more about the progress of distinctlyDrake.

I have been pleased and honored to join together with the Drake alumni team as they traveled the U.S. for regional distinctlyDrake events. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting with my fellow alumni where they live and work, and visiting with people who love the University as much as I do.

It was especially exciting to be able to visit with alumni from Drake’s School of Education and spread the word about the school’s building project — an undertaking that is being made possible through distinctlyDrake. My family and I have been delighted to pledge our support and enthusiasm for this project, as well as for distinctlyDrake as a whole.

It’s important to remember, however, that distinctlyDrake is not really about buildings. It’s not even about alumni events. It’s about the students from current and future generations who will benefit so richly from the ripples of philanthropy that we’re creating here today.As you peruse this special section of Drake Blue, I hope you will enjoy reading about how distinctlyDrake is already making a difference in students’ lives.

Joan Middleton ED’63, GR’77
Recipient of 2009 Drake Alumni Loyalty Award

Interdisciplinary Centers

A Global Sphere of Influence: Internationalization brings opportunities for students, faculty 

When Lukas Olynyk traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, in the summer following his freshman year at Drake, his professional goals of working in the international arena took a more personal turn.

Not only did Olynyk serve as an intern and assistant caseworker for the Ngong Road Children’s Association, which provides education, medical care, meals and other support to children who have been affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS; he was able to meet Afline, the six-year-old girl his family had been sponsoring through the organization.

“I aided the case workers with checking up on the families and teachers of the children in the program,” says Olynyk. He also photographed and videotaped the surroundings and the children for the organization’s website (www.ngongroad.org) and blogged as his worldview opened even further.

“I learned how fortunate we are here in the U.S. and how even with nothing to give, people in the developing world will open their hearts and homes and give you everything,” says Olynyk. “It taught me a lot about people — real people with real struggles. That outlook will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

Olynyk’s internship in Kenya was made possible thanks to the Global Service Grant Program, supported by the Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship. The grant program provides financial support for students to take part in summer service activities abroad.

Today Olynyk is a senior international relations major/philosophy minor with a career focus on conflict resolution and the Middle East. He found his two months in Nairobi affirmed his future path  — working in the international arena.

Commitment to internationalization

The Center for Global Citizenship got its start 10 years ago, borne of Drake’s commitment to infusing academic offerings with a global perspective. A lead gift from R.W. and Mary Nelson got the center off the ground.

Recently, however, the center and the grant program that made Olynyk’s Africa experience possible have been greatly bolstered by distinctlyDrake. distinctlyDrake’s overall emphasis on creating interdisciplinary centers — and expansion of the Center for Global Citizenship in particular — brings a heightened visibility that has translated into progress. Recent leadership-level gifts from Principal Financial Group, its chairman, president and CEO Larry Zimpleman, BN’73, GR’79, and his wife, Kathi, and Ron Olson, BN’63, and his wife, Jane, are allowing this part of Drake’s vision to become a reality.

Also reinforcing Drake’s commitment to internationalization was the recent hiring of Christa Olson in the new position of vice provost for international programs.

“The Center for Global Citizenship has shifted culture and has gotten a lot more involved in international opportunities — not just for students but also for faculty — and helping to integrate experiences into the curriculum,“ says Olson.

“The Center for Global Citizenship is now an incubator for what we would like to see on a bigger scale on campus,” she says.

Capital Projects

A tasteful gift from the Hubbell family

A formerly vacant space in the north side of Hubbell Dining Hall is now a contemporary venue for students to dine, relax and play thanks to a $5 million renovation funded by donors to distinctlyDrake.

The project, unveiled in fall 2010, offers 18,500 square feet of renovated space. On the upper level is Quad Creek Café, an expansive dining area that includes a grill and stations for smoothies, pizza, subs, salads and international specialties in addition to a stage and a sophisticated projection system. Students can relax downstairs in Spike’s Spot, which offers a convenience store, conference rooms, large flat-screen TVs,
a pool table and video game stations.

The renovation project was made possible by gifts and pledges from the Hubbell family, Hubbell Realty Co. and the Windsor Charitable Foundation, along with funding from Sodexo, Inc.

Endowed faculty position spurs innovation

Drake magazine students are among the first to take their message to the iPad

Drake senior magazine majors have found their way into the homes, hands and even pockets of a diverse community the last two years with the publication of their all-digital lifestyle magazine, Urban Plains.

The decision to go digital-only came from the students, who worked under the guidance of instructor Jeff Inman to produce an online publication with fully-integrated multi-media. The magazine was also one of the first student-produced titles in the country distributed on the iPad.

“It’s the magazine experience on steroids,” says Lori Blachford, the Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter Chair of Magazine Journalism. “It allows students to jump into new forums in a very practical way. If we can teach these students to take a risk in order to start something new, I don’t know that we can do any better by them.”

Blachford is Drake’s first endowed chair of magazine journalism, a position made possible by the foresight and generosity of Peggy Fisher, fa’70, and her husband, Larry Stelter. Considered the gold standard in academia, endowed positions provide for compensation and annual research funds in perpetuity. This long-term commitment to an academic program provides the level of academic freedom that inspires innovation, discovery and scholarly pursuits of the highest level.

“There is a motivation and responsibility that comes with an endowed position: to innovate, do the best work possible and to put Drake University on the map,” says Blachford.

Another way that has happened is with Think magazine, the spring capstone experience that combines magazine and news-Internet seniors. Think has gained national prominence the last two years by winning the ACP Pacemaker award as top college magazine in the country.

“The trust and confidence that Peggy and Larry have shown in the magazine program has really solidified the culture of success here,” Blachford says. “It’s a point of pride not just with the faculty but with the students as well. ”

The national attention has opened doors for Blachford, who serves as social media chair for the Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication and recently wrote a chapter on digital strategies for a new edition of the textbook The Magazine from Cover to Cover.

Many programs and institutions strive for innovation, visibility and enhanced reputation. At Drake, these ambitions have been accelerated by the addition of the Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter chair of magazine journalism. These are the attributes that attract top scholars and students to campus. This enriched Drake community promotes collaboration — and results in exceptional opportunities like the ones experienced by students and faculty in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Collective Strength

Philanthropy Week shows students the power of giving back

The spirit of Thanksgiving permeated the Drake campus for a week in November 2011, and there was much more to it than the anticipation of a turkey-fueled break. A week of activities during Philanthropy @ Drake Week had students actively celebrating the power of giving back.

Hosted by the Student Alumni Association, the week was designed to educate students about the impact that philanthropy has on their experience at Drake. Daily activities promoted appreciation for the gifts that make the Drake experience possible.

The week’s tone was set with signs placed in buildings, spaces and rooms that were made possible by Drake donors, telling the story of these people and their gifts to Drake. Events included a Thank-a-thon, where students wrote thank-you letters to donors and tweeted messages of thanks.

Students also participated in a day of good deeds that included everything from handing out candy and paying for strangers’ meals to letting coworkers know that their work is appreciated.

In addition to giving thanks, the student body came together to give back.

The week’s theme, 11 in 11, referred to the goal that 11 percent of Drake students contribute to The Drake Fund in 2011 — a goal that, if reached, would bring a challenge gift of $11,000 from Joe Aiello, BN’80, president of the National Alumni Board Association of Directors and his wife, Leslie, FA’79.

Drake students surpassed the goal: Fifteen percent contributed to the fund, with proceeds designated for general scholarships.

The event was the second of its kind; the inaugural Philanthropy @ Drake Week was held in February 2011. A third event was held in February 2012.

“The goal was to raise awareness that everyone at Drake is touched by philanthropy,” says Blake Campbell, GR’05, director of alumni relations, “and to help students understand that Drake is what it is because of a 130-year history of giving back.”

Access to Opportunities

Scholarships allow friends, alumni to pave the way

Some 98 percent of Drake students receive financial aid — a total of $48 million in 2011. The funds are available thanks in large part to the generosity of the alumni and friends who want to pave the way for future generations of students.

Each fall, many scholarship benefactors receive letters of thanks from the recipients of their generosity. These letters from students, a few of which are excerpted on this page, speak for themselves. They serve as testimony not only to the life-changing power of education but also to the opportunities made possible by giving back.

“… my dad passed away when I was 11  … the burden of paying for my education was lightened considerably when I received a very special letter saying I had been awarded the Gaudiner scholarship … [it] was a dream come true. “

“I do not even begin to know how to express my gratitude for the spectacular opportunity you have given me.”

“I know that none of the experiences I am privileged to partake in at Drake would be possible without your scholarship gift. I am putting myself through school and have the desire to attend veterinary school after I graduate from Drake … You are making a wonderful difference in my life!”

“I am an international student from South Korea and I came to Drake University looking for a better education … My goal is to become a successful actuary and support my younger brother’s tuition.”

Lasting Impact

Daughter’s scholarship moves father to provide opportunity for others

Pay it forward. It’s a familiar phrase used in casual conversation — but how many people have actually done it?

“Phil” has. We’ll call him Phil because his modesty dictates that he remain anonymous.

Last fall, from what seemed like out of the blue, Phil called Drake’s development office; he wanted to repay the tuition scholarship his daughter had received more than 15 years ago.

“The scholarship program was excellent — it really helped my financial situation when my oldest daughter was going to Drake,” says Phil. Without the tuition scholarship, his daughter would not have been able to attend Drake, the only school to which she had applied.

Phil’s daughter graduated from Drake in the mid-’90s and went on to pursue a graduate degree at Harvard. By that time, Phil was in a better financial situation and able to support both his daughters’ educational pursuits.

“Helping my daughters get the best education possible is the best investment I ever made in my life,” says Phil. “And now, with both of them having their own families and my financial obligations no longer being a burden for me, I feel like it is the right time for me to pay back Drake and society.”

Phil did more than “pay back” Drake. He gave the University twice the amount awarded to his daughter to establish the Minnesota Scholarship Fund for Excellence, an endowed scholarship that will provide financial assistance to Minnesotans attending Drake who demonstrate a financial need.

“I hope my support for the [scholarship] program at Drake reminds others of the importance of higher education,” says Phil.

On the topic of remaining anonymous, Phil says, “I’ve been fortunate to move up in my career and retire without financial worries. I don’t need any more recognition.”