mopdf.com

L E A D G I F TSDevoted coupleleave FGCUits largestscholarship fundMarjorie and E.E. “Pop”Kelly devoted their livesto running companiesthat supplied the farm and construction equipment vital to coaxing the rich, mucky soil aroundClewiston into crop-yielding farmland and paved roads being built inthe early 1900s.The success the couplereaped in life will help sow college educations for generations ofstudents.When Marj Kelly died inMarch 2007 at the age of 98, sheleft Florida Gulf Coast Universitya planned gift that will total 4.3million over five years. The gift,which is eligible for one-on-onematching dollars from the state,will endow the Pop and Marj KellyScholarship Fund.“When fully funded, the Popand Marj Kelly Scholarship Fundwill be the largest scholarshipendowment at FGCU,” says President Wilson G. Bradshaw. “Ourthanks go to this lovely couple whocared very much about SouthwestFlorida and its University.”Pop Kelly was born in Kearney,Mo., and found his way to Floridathrough a job transfer. He met hisfuture wife in 1935 at a Palm Beachrestaurant, where she worked as acashier and waitress. She eventually went to work for his business,the Clewiston Motor Company,4and the couple wed in April 1939.Today the business is called theKelly Tractor Company.During their 27-year marriage, the Kellys were activemembers of the First BaptistChurch in Clewiston, traveledextensively, and built a summerhome in Wayneville, N.C., wherethey loved to play golf and entertain friends.Pop Kelly died in 1966. MarjKelly subsequently created thescholarship.“It was a way for them toensure that the good they did inlife continued on after they died,”says Peter Lefferts, FGCU directorof planned giving.Marj Kelly was born inConcord, Ga., but spent most ofher life in Clewiston, where shewas a member of the ClewistonGarden Club, the Business andProfessional Women’s Group andthe church.“She was a very devoutBaptist and very much a lady,”says Alden Wyse, a longtimefriend and co-trustee of the Kellytrust. “She wanted young peoplefrom the South Florida area witha financial need to get help to goto school. Over the years, this giftwill help a lot of students achievethat goal.”Elizabethand JackConnerElizabethand JackConnerGifts benefitstudents,nursing programin perpetuityFMarjorie KellyE. E. “Pop” Kellylorida Gulf Coast Universitystudents for generations tocome will benefit from thegenerosity of Elizabeth “Betty” andJack Conner, who placed a highvalue on education and the University.“Jack and I appreciate beingassociated with FGCU and thepeople who strive to make it the bestUniversity in Florida,” Elizabeth“Betty” Conner wrote to Universityofficials several years ago.Their trusts funded The Elizabeth A. and Jack A. Conner Professorship of Nursing, The ElizabethA. and Jack A. Conner Professorship of World Affairs, and theirthird scholarship fund. Both estategifts, valued at more than 3 million, will be doubled by the Stateof Florida.In 1998, they established theJack and Betty Conner EndowedScholarship Fund, which encourages ethics in business. When BettyConner later learned that one ofher scholarship recipients wantedto pursue her master’s degree butcouldn’t afford it, she establishedthe Jack and Betty Conner Fellowship Fund, which gives preferenceto FGCU graduate students whoreceived the Conners’ undergraduate scholarships. The distinguishedprofessorships in Nursing andWorld Affairs will honor profes-L E A D G I F TSMarjorie and E.E. “Pop” Kellysors who have published widelyand shown a commitment to usingtheir achievements to give FGCUstudents the most stimulating education possible. Their trust-fundedscholarship will benefit undergraduate students in Collier and Leecounties who have academic abilityand financial need.Jack Conner was a toolmaker,retiring from Delva Tool in Cinnaminson, N.J., where he helpedcreate a special case for the secondmoon buggy, allowing astronauts totransmit from their suits directly toearth. He was also an accomplishedcraftsman, designing furniture andaccessories for the studio in theirBonita Springs home. He died in2002.Betty Conner was a registerednurse who worked in hospitals,then became a school nurse. For22 years, she worked in the CherryHill, N.J., school system, retiring in 1984, two years after beingdiagnosed with lymphoma. Shevaliantly fought the disease for 25years. She died Feb. 18, 2007.Attorney Jim Kerr says, “Theuncommon love Jack and Bettyfelt for each other overflowed totheir non-traditional family. (Theirfinancial adviser) Bob Ratti and Ibecame part of their family, as didmany at the University and all theirscholarship recipients.”Among their past scholarshiprecipients was Bianny Fernandezwho wrote to Betty Conner atthe end of her life: “I will alwaysremember your kindness, yoursweet words, your smile. Thank youfor the gift of education, for caringfor me like I never thought anyoneoutside of my family would. I loveyou and I count on soon having anangel in the heavens watching overme. Please do not forget me whenyou are in the paradise that you sowell deserve.”5

L E A D G I F TSCultivating ethicsin tomorrow’scapitalistsIt’s not enough to know howthe free market system works.Instilling a strong ethicalapproach to business is criticalNancy and Norm VesterNancy and Norm VesterCouple’s giftbrings greaterdepth to MarineScience programLike so many SouthwestFloridians, Norm and NancyVester are transplants whodiscovered the joys of subtropicalliving later in life.Having done so, they grewattached to the region and cameto admire the students and accomplishments of Florida Gulf CoastUniversity. That led them to helpthe University establish its firstwaterfront research center.The Vesters met at summercamp in the Berkshires when theywere 15. They later married andraised a family in Vermont, thenCape Cod. Nancy Vester workedas a school librarian while NormVester started in the refractorybusiness (which involves firebrickand boiler linings), then moved intoreal estate and the stock market.About 10 years ago, the couplestarted spending winters at BonitaBeach Plantation Resort, alongFish Trap Bay just off Bonita BeachRoad. They later bought the resort,ran it for a while then decided tosell it.They believed FGCU couldput the property to good use, sothey sold it to the University formore than 1 million less than itsappraised value. It is now FGCU’sNorm and Nancy Vester MarineandEnvironmentalScienceResearch Field Station.While the Vesters still liveon the property, FGCU researchers and students make full use ofthe boat slips, lab, office space andapartments for visiting scientists.Students and faculty are conducting research into the effectsof red tide on marine organisms,ways to restore mangroves and seagrasses and the effects of rising sealevels on coastlines and ecosystems,among many other projects.“To see young people coming out here, that’s exciting,” saysNancy Vester.University officials agree.“This will benefit not only theUniversity, but the region as well,”says Donna Price Henry, dean ofthe College of Arts and Sciences.Breakthroughs that occuras a result of research done herecould result in ways to improvethe marine environments of EsteroBay, the Caloosahatchee River,the Ten Thousand Islands and theEverglades.“We could not be as responsive to the needs of SouthwestFlorida without the generosity ofpeople like the Vesters and otherswho see the promise of the role acomprehensive state university canplay in enhancing the region’s quality of life,” says President WilsonG. Bradshaw.Norm Vester says he hopesthat visiting the site will inspireothers to contribute, too, and hehas another wish: “We have a deepdown desire to find a solution forthe red tide mess. If the University can do that and get the propercredit for it, it will really enhanceits reputation.”to Florida Gulf Coast Universityto establish a Distinguished Professorship in Free Enterprise willencourage meaningful dialogue onthe concepts of reason, individualrights, economic freedom, and thepersonal pursuit of happiness; promote a better understanding of oureconomy; and provide an enhancedability to make meaningful contributions to the world.”BB&T committed 600,000,which qualifies for a 50 percentmatch from the state, bringing thetotal value of the gift to 900,000.“The establishment of theBB&T Distinguished Professorship in Free Enterprise will providea critical foundation for the Lutgert College of Business to enhancepublic understanding and creativeinitiatives that address capitalism and the importance of privateincentives in economic growth anddevelopment,” says Dr. RichardPegnetter, dean of the Lutgert College of Business.BB&T’s gift will provide forthe BB&T Distinguished Professor in Free Enterprise, who will beavailable to speak in the community and will develop a book clubthat will focus on free enterprise.The professor will teach a newcourse for business majors that willexplore morality in business.In addition, the Universitywill create an annual lecture seriesdesigned to bring prominent thinkers of national status to SouthwestFlorida to teach the tenets of freeenterprise capitalism.“BB&T believes strongly ingiving back to the communitiesin which we work and live,” saysSusan Maurer, BB&T senior vicepresident, area executive. “Thatis why we are so pleased to support FGCU with a gift that willcontinue to enrich and educatestudents in our community.”L E A D G I F TSBB&Tto a successful career and that’s aprimary goal of the new BB&TDistinguishedProfessorshipin Free Enterprise at FloridaGulf Coast University’s LutgertCollege of Business.“We find that many graduates from business schools, whileunderstanding the technology ofbusiness, do not have a clear graspon the moral principles underlyingfree markets,” says BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerJohn A. Allison. “Our contributionJohn Allison67

S C H O L A RSHI P Shelp studentsachieve their dreamsScholarships have always helpedopen the doors to higher education, but as costs climb and statemoney grows more limited, therehas never been a greater need forthem.Money is often the decidingfactor in whether promising students have the opportunity to further their educations. For others,scholarships are public recognitionof distinguished educational journeys, providing encouragement toNew Endowed ScholarshipsAbernathy Port Charlotte KiwanisFoundation, in honor of John F.Abernathy, Endowed ScholarshipFundJack Amar Memorial Scholarship EndowedFundJudge Isaac and Audrea AndersonScholarship Endowed FundTier ElectricAt FGCU’s annual scholarship luncheon,scholarship recipient Stephanie Cifuentestalks with Kathie Beeken, donor of the Williamand Kathryn Beeken Scholarship.size of the contribution.The reasons scholarships areestablished are as varied as theirselection criteria, but what they allhave in common is that sponsorsknow their gifts make a difference,changing lives and creating a bettercommunity and world.Keith Bullock Memorial ScholarshipEndowed FundOwen-Ames-Kimball Company EngineeringScholarship FundCarol and Jim Burnette Endowed GraduateScholarship FundPhysical Plant Endowed Scholarship FundRuth M. and Cleveland L. CampbellEngineering Scholarship Endowed FundComputing Services Endowed ScholarshipFundJames F. and Lynn E. Knupp ScholarshipEndowed Fund #2The Schoen Foundation Veteran’sScholarship Endowed FundDouglas R. and Terri L. St. Cerny ScholarshipEndowed FundDr. Erich Liebert Endowed Scholarship FundTaste of Collier - in honor of Ray & JuneSinger Scholarship Endowed FundPresident Wilson G. and Jo Anna BradshawScholarship Endowed FundRoger and Nancy McCabe ScholarshipTier Electric Endowed Scholarship FundDiana Nerestant Memorial Scholarship FundUS Bank, N.A. Endowed Scholarship FundThe SCHOENFOUNDATIONcontinuous active duty for a minimum of two years within the pastdecade.The Schoen Foundation committed 200,000 to FGCU, whichqualifies for a 50 percent matchfrom the state, bringing the totalvalue of the gift to 300,000.“My life was deeply affectedby my experience as a Marine andby the generosity of others whoprovided scholarships to enable meto further my education,” says William Schoen, foundation chairman.“As a resident of Southwest Florida, I saw an opportunity to establish a military endowment scholarship fund at FGCU’s new LutgertCollege of Business.”Scholarships will be awardedon an annual basis and studentsmay receive them in successiveyears.n a tribute to veterans seekingto study business, The SchoenFoundation has created an endowed fund to help them achievetheir goals.TheSchoenFoundationVeteran’s Scholarship EndowedFund will benefit FGCU full-timestudents enrolled in the LutgertCollege of Business. Recipientsmust be honorably dischargedveterans of any branch of the U.S.military and must have served onThe owners of Tier Electric believe that businesses that support one another make for a stronger community.That’s why the companydonated 100,000 to create theTier Electric Endowment Scholarship Fund, which will award scholarships to Lee and Collier countystudents with financial need. Whenmatched by state funds, the gift’svalue will be 150,000, and shouldfund at least three 2,500 scholarships each year.“We like to do businesswith people who do business withus,” says John Cammarata, whoowns the company with DennisLawton, Rick Newton and DaleQuick.Tier, which has been in business since 2003, has been involvedFrom left: Rick Newton, Dennis Lawton and John Cammarata at FGCU construction site. Notpictured: Dale Quickin the construction of several University buildings, including the newfive-story student residence thatopened this fall as well as the campus laundry facilities and centralenergy plant.“The University has alwaysbeen there as part of the Tier Electric team,” Cammarata says. “Wethought what’s better than puttingour resources back into those whohelped our company grow?”Ellen Wolfson Smyle Memorial ScholarshipEndowed FundMrs. Keith S. Benson Scholarship FundI8continue on this path.In the 2007-08 academic year, 1.17 million in scholarships wasawarded from more than 210 established endowed funds that continuein perpetuity. These funded scholarships for 891 students.An endowment is establishedwith a minimum gift of 10,000that may be paid over time. The fundis carefully invested and proceedsfrom the endowment are awarded asscholarships each year. The contributors name the scholarship funds anddetermine the criteria for awardingthem. The state of Florida matchesendowment gifts of 100,000 ormore. Matches range from 50 percent to 100 percent, based on theS C H O L A RSHI P onAbernathy was a long-timeJohnresident of Port Charlotte andWilliamSchoena loyal Kiwanian. When he died,he left a portion of his estate tothe Port Charlotte Kiwanis Clubto fund scholarships for deservingstudents.The group formed the Abernathy Port Charlotte KiwanisFoundation to award scholarshipsto Port Charlotte students, committing 100,000 to the endowedFrom left: Darlene McCloud, FGCU Foundation director of major gifts; Abernathy Port CharlotteKiwanis Foundation representatives Lawrence Hurley, Gabrielle Azar-Levin, Allen Levin, and FGCUPresident Wilson G. Bradshaw.fund established in his memory.When matched by the state, theAbernathy Port Charlotte KiwanisFoundation, in honor of John F.Abernathy, Endowed ScholarshipFund will be valued at 150,000.“On behalf of the AbernathyPort Charlotte Kiwanis Founda-tion, it gives us great pleasure tocreate an endowed scholarshipfund at FGCU,” says Allen J. Levin,the foundation president. “Thefund will provide scholarships tostudents from Port Charlotte whoseek a leadership role in the publicor private sector.”9

S C H O L A RSHI P SCouple sharegood fortune, urgeothers to do the sameCleveland Campbell knowsfirsthand how important asolid education is to a successfullife. The son of a tenant farmer, hegrew up poor in eastern Arkansas.After high school, he enlistedin the military and became a fighterpilot in World War II. In return,the military paid for his collegeeducation and he was able to earn adegree in mechanical engineering,which he says became his ticket toa meaningful career and happy life.He started out as an agriculturalengineer, dealing with machinery,soil conservation and such, theneventually shifted into real estatesales in Naples.Now retired and living in FortMyers, he and his wife, Ruth, wantothers to have the opportunitiesthey did. To help in that regard,FArea companies,individuals unite tobuild strong foundationLClevelandand RuthCampbellthey have established the Ruth M.and Cleveland L. Campbell Engineering Scholarship EndowedFund.“It means a lot to us to be ableto help young people,” he says. “Weknow the importance of education.It is extremely valuable as a way tosecure a successful future. Ruth andI have been lucky, so it is now payback time. We offered a scholarshipmatching opportunity to FGCU asa way to get others involved.”The Campbells are contributing 100,000 to establish the scholarship fund. To encourage others tofollow their lead, the Campbellsmatched contributions from otherscholarship gifts the Foundationreceived. The state of Florida willprovide a 50 percent match to theCampbells’ gift. While the scholarships provided through the Campbells’ fund will be awarded to engineering students, donations fromothers went toward scholarships inany discipline offered at FGCU, atthe discretion of individual donors.The Campbells expect something from recipients as well.“Each student who receivesour scholarship at FGCU sendsus a letter about themselves,” hesays. “We then write to them andencourage them to also give backwhen they become successful inlife. Then it’s their payback time.That’s how it works.”First generation scholarships helpstudents blaze new trailsor some families, sending theirchildren to college continuesa well-established tradition. Forothers, whose children are the firstin the family to attend college, itis the culmination of a lifelongdream.The First Generation Scholarship Program helps Florida GulfCoast University students achievethese dreams, making grants to10LutgertHallundergraduate students with financial need whose parents have notearned baccalaureate degrees. Created in 2006 by the Florida Legislature, the state program doublesevery scholarship gift made in support of First Generation students.The funds may be used for whatever students need – books, tuition,housing, etc. – in order to worktoward a degree.The Southwest Florida community has given generously,enabling FGCU to claim its maximum match from the state. In2007-08, the University awarded 415,033 in scholarships to 433First Generation students.The need remains great. FGCUhas more than 800 First Generationstudents applying for assistance forthe 2008-09 academic year.utgert Hall provides concreteand dramatic evidence of thelevel of community support theLutgert College of Business has attracted. The new structure’s graceful columns and soaring glass atrium are the results of the generosityof area businesses and individualsjoined in the conviction that whathappens in this building wouldbenefit everyone.The 19.4-million, 62,000square-foot structure that housesthe multi-faceted Lutgert Collegeof Business opened in August.Designed by the Fort Myersarchitectural firm of SchenkelSchultz and constructed by OwenAmes-Kimball Company, thebuilding was made possible by a 5-million donation by Raymondand Beverly Lutgert. The state ofFlorida, which had previously com-HealthManagementAssociatesThe HMA Foundation, Inc.named Lutgert Hall’s distinctivethree-story atrium, which will serveas the lobby. The glass-fronted facade, fronted by four stately columns,creates an imposing exterior anda naturally well-lit interior. It’sthe first structure visitors seewhen arriving via the University’smain entrance.mitted 9.4 million to the project,also matched the Lutgerts’ gift.“The faculty, staff and studentsof the Lutgert College of Businesswill benefit, not only in the immediate future, but for many years tocome thanks to the generous support of our community partnersand alumni in funding our educational endowment through sponsorship of rooms and classes withinLutgert Hall,” says Dr. RichardPegnetter, dean of the Lutgert College of Business.Other area businesses andindividuals provided additionalmoney to name specialized rooms.Their gifts also create a permanentendowment fund that will provideenhancements for faculty recruitment and development as well asstudent travel and activities. In“Effective leadership definessuccess, and Health ManagementAssociates, Inc. is proud to continueits support of Florida Gulf CoastUniversity and the Lutgert Collegeof Business in the development oftomorrow’s leaders,” says Gary D.Newsome, CEO of Health Management Associates. “We embraceour partnership with FGCU, recognizing the invaluable combinationof a superior academic environment with a dynamic faculty andstudent body with the opportunityto apply classroom theory in realworld settings. Southwest Florida’sfuture looks bright.”addition, it will contribute to making the College a state-of-the-arttraining center for future entrepreneurs and business leaders.These new resources can onlyenhance the success this 10-yearold College has enjoyed.It exceeded standards set byAACSB International, the premieraccrediting agency for colleges ofbusiness administration and did soin a very short time. The graduateprogram is among those selectedfor The Princeton Review’s 2007edition of “Best 282 BusinessSchools.”The Lutgert College of Business also has close ties with thearea’s business community andhas forged alliances with severalinternational universities and theirnations’ business sectors.F ac i l i t i e s Suppo r tClevelandAND RuthCampbellGary Newsome11

F ac i l i t i e s Suppo r tMichael Smith, Charlie Kleman and FGCU President Wilson G. BradshawMartin M. Wasmer and Michael J. SchroederJeffrey Roth, Laura Holquist and FGCU Dean Richard PegnetterSource InterlinkChico’s CharitiesWasmer SchroederALLETE PropertiesSCTFource Interlink Companies made a generousdonation to name a case study classroom inLutgert Hall. This classroom will enable groups ofstudents to work together incorporating state-of-theart technology in the process.“FGCU is a tremendous resource for us, and agreat provider of new talent for all the companies inour area,” says James R. Gillis, co-CEO of SourceInterlink. “Creating and maintaining a vibrant anddynamic local economy depends on access to qualityeducational facilities like FGCU.”hico’s Charities, Inc. has named the Chico’sExecutive Board Room in Lutgert Hall. Thisstellar space will be used for meetings and as a training ground for business students.“Chico’s is proud and eager to support FGCU asit endeavors to maintain the already high standardsit has established,” says Charlie Kleman, president ofChico’s Charities. “FGCU’s impact on the communityis being felt far beyond the numerous skilled graduates across many disciplines who have b

and 1,685 FGCU students earned degrees and entered the workforce or graduate programs in their cho-sen professions with knowledge and personal values of civility, inclusive-ness, diversity, civic engagement and environmental sustainability. This is indeed a year to celebrate. Letter from the Pre