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Latest In
PUBLISHED ON Mar 07 2018
Jonathan Purvis, a respected leader in higher education advancement with 19 years of experience, has been named Butler University's Vice President for Advancement. He begins his duties at Butler on April 16, 2018.
Purvis comes to Butler from Indiana University where he has served as Vice President for Development and Regional Campuses. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations for the Indiana University School of Education and Senior Director for Capital Projects at Washington University in St. Louis. He has also held varied positions at the IU Foundation ranging from Executive Director of Special Gifts and Annual Giving to Assistant to the President.
"Jonathan possesses an exceptional depth of experience within higher education advancement," said Butler University President James Danko. "His proven success in development, and demonstrated leadership in higher education, make him the right person to help us to achieve our ambitious fundraising goals."
Purvis holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential (CFRE) and has taught a variety of fundraising courses at Indiana University. He is a frequent presenter with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and is a contributing author to the third edition of the acclaimed Achieving Excellence in Fundraising. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in Public Affairs, both from Indiana University Bloomington.
Having grown up in Noblesville, Indiana, in a family of Butler alumni, Purvis is excited to return to Central Indiana to be part of the Butler community. He is joined by his wife Brittany, daughter Sophie, and son Joshua.
Media contact:
Rachel Stern
Jonathan Purvis comes to BU from IU.
BY Rachel Stern
PUBLISHED ON Dec 03 2018
The vision for the Butler University Lacy School of Business can be traced back to a drawing of a barbell on a crumpled-up napkin.
Instead of 25-pound weights on each side, there was the First-Year Business Experience and the Butler Business Consulting Group. Each side, then-Dean Dick Fetter would explain, represented a key aspect of what the school's curriculum would be built around: real life experience. This, Fetter explained to anyone who would listen, was exactly what was missing. In fact, he felt, it was what was missing from most business school curriculums. Nearly 20 years ago and ahead of his time, Fetter thought that the key to taking Butler from a fine business school to a great one was to get students more exposure to the business world from day one.
A former fertilizer business owner, Fetter entered the academic world and saw a disconnect between what was needed in the business world and what students were getting on campus. So, he wanted to change it. And he took to napkins, whiteboards, scraps of paper, anything, to show people his ideas.
The ideas, explains Dan McQuiston, Associate Professor of Marketing and the man largely responsible for hiring Fetter, had been floating around Fetter's head for years. But, once he was named Dean of the College of Business in 1999, he started to really put his vision into motion. He would diagram out what a revamped curriculum would look like to solve this dilemma—to turn a fine school, McQuiston explains, into a top-quality one on the cutting edge of experiential learning before it became the go-to-catch-phrase-every-school-touts-themselves-as-being.
About 20 years later, a $22 million Lilly Endowment grant, an overhauled curriculum, and a new building on the way, much of the progress behind the Lacy School of Business, and its national recognition as a result , can be traced back to Fetter's trailblazing ways. And napkins.
"Dick is a visionary," McQuiston says. "He really was able to see where education was going, what was needed, and how to get us there. He put into place the programmatic things that we are still doing today, the very things that give us a tremendous competitive advantage.
"We went from the school no one really knew about to a model school. Now, we cannot fit anyone else in here with a shoehorn. Because of the programs Dick put into place 15 years ago when no one else was thinking about experiential education, we have been able to attract students from all over the place. We would not be putting up a new building if it wasn't for Dick."
So, it is only fitting that the new building honor the man friends, co-workers, former students, and business partners say is largely responsible for it. When fundraising for the new Lacy School of Business building started three years ago, recognizing Fetter, who is now an Associate Professor of Marketing, in some way was immediately a priority, says Graham Honaker, Executive Director of Principal Gifts.
Fifty-five donors and $1 million later, the Dean's Suite in the new Lacy School of Business building will be named in Fetter's honor. Donations came from members of Fetter's own family, from individuals representing seven different states, from Butler graduates from the class of 1962 to the class of 2016. There were several first-time donors, long-time donors, faculty members, former students, and some with no connection to Butler except Fetter.
"This was really a grassroots effort and the more people we talked to, it just took off and kept going because Dick has influenced and helped so many individuals," Honaker says. "There were not a lot of no's in the process. Everyone gave a different amount, of course, but it all helped us get to our goal. It shows the influence Dick has had and the power of every gift."
And even more impressive, this fundraising effort was all kept a secret from Fetter the entire time. But those who know him best say that if he knew, he would have attempted to shut the entire thing down.
On a recent Friday evening, a group of Fetter's family, former students, colleagues, President James Danko, and others gathered in Fairview House to reveal the $1 million surprise. Fetter showed up in a hardhat—he thought he was there to give a tour of the new business school building. He knew something was awry when he saw his four sisters from Ohio in the room.
"Rarely am I speechless, but I'm almost at a loss for words," said Fetter.
About 95 percent of those who donated to the $1 million were there to celebrate—from Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, to name a few—Fetter's vision and leadership, and to return the gifts he had given all of them.
Dan McQuiston first met Dick Fetter at the copy machine.
Let's be clear. McQuiston had certainly heard of Fetter. Everyone at Indiana University had. McQuiston was a professor and Fetter was a star doctoral student. Professors would seek Fetter out to do their data analysis and research because he was so skilled, says McQuiston.
"I remember when I first actually met him he said, 'hi, my name is Dick Fetter,' and I just kind of laughed because of course I knew who he was," McQuiston says. "But that is the kind of guy Dick is. He is the most humble, unassuming, deferential person you will ever meet."
The two chatted and right then and there McQuiston was impressed. Shortly after that, McQuiston took a job at Butler and his first mission as department chair: hire Dick Fetter.
"I didn't think we had a snowball's chance in Haiti of getting Dick here, but I knew I was going to do whatever I could to try," he says. "His older daughter was thinking of going to North Carolina for school and I knew Dick had an offer from Wake Forest, so I figured we were done."
McQuiston was giving his daughter a bath when the phone rang. It was Fetter. He braced for the bad news. But, he will never forget the words on the other end.
"Dick said, 'I am coming to Butler,' and I nearly dropped the phone in the bath," says McQuiston.
But what came next, he says, was foreshadowing at its finest. McQuiston asked Fetter why he decided on Butler and his answer was simple. Fetter told McQuiston that he is a builder and he wanted to build things. That, McQuiston says, is how it all started. For the next couple years Fetter commuted from Bloomington, often times sleeping in a bed in Robertson Hall.
Fetter became interim dean in 1999 and started to put into play many of the programmatic changes that the Lacy School of Business is known for today, says McQuiston. For example, at the time, first-year students didn't take any business classes. He changed that by putting into place the First Year Business Experience, which gave students experience working with corporate partners. He implemented the Real Business Experience for sophomores, which is essentially a mini-Shark Tank.
"These were, and continue to be, tremendous competitive advantages for our school," McQuiston says. "Coming in as interim dean, he could have just kept things status quo and made sure things ran smoothly. But that's not Dick. He had ideas and knew how to make us go from good to great. He put everything together that you now see as cornerstones of our school."
Then there was the Butler Business Consulting Group. This was Fetter's model for how Butler could serve as a place to attract businesses, and in turn, get students more real-life experience. Butler received a Lilly Grant for this to the tune of $22 million.
"Every decision he made was about students. With him, it is always about the students and how to make their experience better," he says.
Julie Hoffmann was set on Drake University. She had been to campus multiple times, her living arrangements were finalized, and there were only three days left before her decision would be official in April of her senior year of high school.
But, there was that scholarship offer from Butler, and she hadn't visited campus yet, so she hit the road with her dad from Wisconsin just to make sure.
She went through her visit, took a tour, sat in on a class, ate lunch, and was unswayed, she says. The last thing on her schedule was to meet with Dick Fetter. She told her dad to wait outside, she would be out in 10 minutes.
An hour-and-a-half later, she walked out, and on the car ride home she told her dad she was going to Butler.
Fetter knew Hoffmann's interests, he offered her a job as his student assistant, he gave her his home phone number, and he was well aware of what she did in high school.
"Nobody is better at subtle sales than Dick," says Hoffmann, who graduated from Butler in 1998 and is now Assistant Director of the IT Help Desk at Butler. "At that age, hard selling wouldn't have worked. He was a great listener, he remembered what I said, he made me feel like an adult, he read my file carefully, he never was in a hurry. I will never forget my first encounter with him."
Her second semester on campus she was in a bad car accident and couldn't get home to Wisconsin. She needed some time to recover and couldn't use stairs, so the Fetters invited her to stay in their home for a couple weeks. It just so happened to be the exact same day a foreign exchange student arrived at their home, as well, but that didn't matter to the Fetters, Hoffmann says. Dick's wife, Peg, stocked the house with all her favorite snacks, like iced animal crackers, and made her grilled cheese sandwiches and mashed potatoes to make Hoffmann feel at home.
Hoffmann went on to work for Fetter for all four years she was at Butler. She roomed with their youngest daughter, Sara, three different times in her life. When Hoffmann needed surgery on her wrist her senior year, the Fetters took her. When a job opened at Butler in 2000 doing marketing research in the Office of Admission that initially brought Hoffmann back to campus, it was Fetter who told her about it. And when her dad died three years ago, it was the Fetters who drove 350 miles each way in one day to attend his funeral.
"The depths of how many different things I am grateful to the Fetters for is limitless," Hoffmann says. "At every turn in my life when I needed something, they never hesitated. And my story is not unique. There are lots of Butler students who have lived with them for a summer. Their door has always been open, they have always been there for whoever needed them."
Just ask J.J. DeBrosse.
DeBrosse first met Fetter when he was an undergrad and Fetter became his advisor his senior year. The two developed a relationship and Fetter was someone DeBrosse could go to for financial, personal, and career advice.
But, DeBrosse will never forget the day he lost his first child to SIDS, and the first people at the hospital were Dick and Peg Fetter. DeBrosse still isn't sure how they found out, the day was a blur, but the Fetters were there when DeBrosse needed them most. The Fetters drove J.J. and his wife home, let their friends and family know, arranged for food at the house, and made sure their cars ended up back at their house.
"You are so helpless in that moment, and for them to drop everything and be there for us at our lowest moment and make sure everything was taken care of, and then just disappear, that is who they are. They are behind the scenes people who are so big hearted, but don't want any attention," says DeBrosse.
There isn't a moment, DeBrosse says, in his life that Fetter hasn't been a part of. DeBrosse is now the Director of Graduate and Professional Recruitment in the Lacy School of Business, a position Fetter pushed him to interview for.
He meets with Fetter weekly and can count on honest feedback, just as it was when he was an undergrad.
"Dick is so generous and never judges you. I know he will always give advice, and will push back on an idea I might have, but in a way that is thoughtful and smart and you know he is making you better and making you think differently," DeBrosse says. "If there is one thing in life I fear it is disappointing people I care about and for me that is my parents, my wife, and then Dick is next in line. I have seen him help people in so many different ways, from personal matters, to helping with major business advice."
Laura Yurs was frustrated. She knew something was wrong with the financials of her family business, but she couldn't get a straight answer from her accountant. She knew exactly who to call.
"I knew I could trust Dick. I knew he wouldn't beat around the bush about it, I knew he would be direct," says Yurs, who graduated from Butler in 1998 and worked for a professor down the hall from Fetter as a student.
So, Yurs met Fetter for dinner, explained what was going on, and a week later, the two met at Barnes and Noble to go over the financials. Fetter kept asking questions as he poured over the papers, as Yurs fed her eight-month-old daughter. Fetter calmly asked for the weekend, and said he would be in touch on Monday.
Monday came and Fetter confirmed Yurs' hunch. The financials were not in good shape. But, he also had a plan. He identified the problem, had steps to take to turn things around, and suggested Yurs sign on with the Butler Business Consulting Group (BBCG).
"He changed our lives," Yurs says. "He could have turned and ran and said I cannot help you, but he stood by us. A lot of people would have run for the door. Now, 10 years later, we are still in business and it is because of that pivotal moment. If we hadn't called him, if he didn't help, I think we would no longer be in business."
Laura and her husband, Kevin, signed up with the BBCG. Student interns sat in on their business' meetings, their situation was used as a case study, and while the Yurs participated in MBA classes at Butler, Peg Fetter babysat.
"Dick understood what we were facing very quickly, and he had the desire to see us get through it," Kevin says. "Whenever we have had something pivotal—kids, business—he has been the critical difference and been there for us. But if you ask him, he will say he didn't do anything. He is really great at understanding a situation, analyzing it for what it is, but then caring enough to help."
Butler has also been there for the Fetters.
Alli, Dick's oldest daughter, got her master's degree from Butler's College of Education in 2002. Sara, Dick's youngest daughter, graduated from Butler with a degree in Anthropology in 2001. Peg has taken many classes at Butler over the years.
"My dad's students and peers have meant so much to our entire family over the years. We have met so many amazing people because of Butler," Alli says. "My dad would say the advancement of the College of Business over the last 30 years has been the product of the work of so many."
When Alli found out about the 55 donors, she broke down for about 10 minutes. She started thinking about all that has taken place. There was the time Bob Mackoy gave up his sabbatical so Fetter could be with his family during a really difficult time. There are the lifelong friends that she met when she was a teenager that stayed in their home over the summer.
"Butler instantly became family when my dad accepted the job and since then my dad's colleagues and students have meant so much to our entire family," Alli says. "We are so grateful and moved and feel humbled by the whole thing."
When Steve Standifird became Dean of the Lacy School of Business, he had to go out of his way to track Dick Fetter down.
"I had to seek him out and convince him that I wanted his feedback," Standifird says. "He didn't want to be in my way, or impose his vision. He is so wonderful about stepping forward any way he can and supporting you however he can. It is a rare gift to have a colleague like him."
And so, it made perfect sense to honor Fetter with the naming of the Dean's Suite, explains Standifird. The pivot point of the school can be traced back to when Fetter served as dean. But more than that, Standifird explains, as Fetter exemplified, a dean leads best by supporting others.
In the new building, the Dean's Suite is intentionally on the fourth floor in a back corner because it is not the star of the show.
"A leader is doing the best job when leading by developing others and that is exactly how Dick leads. He leads by empowering others. The Dean's Suite is a support center for the rest of the school and that is exactly how Dick leads, out of the way, not on the main floor, supporting and developing others," says Standifird.
And Standifird is not the only University administrator to seek out Dick Fetter. When Jim Danko became Butler's 21st president, it didn't take him long to understand the value of Fetter's input and counsel.
"I've always appreciated the wisdom in his advice as I've worked to move the University forward. He's been tremendously helpful to me, and I know the same is true of countless others at Butler and in the Indianapolis community," says Danko.
Jeff Blade remembers the napkin. It seems to him like that was one of the first things Fetter showed him when the two met back in 1996.
Blade, who graduated from Butler in 1983, had just joined the College of Business's Board of Visitors and Fetter was eager to show him the barbell model. A napkin was all that was available. So, Fetter got to sketching.
"Next thing I know, he is drawing his barbell, and explaining, essentially, the future of education on a napkin," Blade says. "He's graphically depicting experiential education, but at the time that was not the hot phrase that it is now. He was talking about getting students involved in real life projects and his vision for how the curriculum would work."
Blade worked for Kraft Foods at the time, and he worked closely with Fetter to make real marketing data from Kraft available for Butler students. The two became close friends, and Blade turned to Fetter for career advice later on.
As a business person, Blade thought Fetter's model made a ton of sense. He was energized by the idea of hiring students who had more real-life business experience during college and tailoring the curriculum toward that.
"I remember thinking then much of the same things I think today—Dick is a transformative leader and someone who thinks big thoughts and has a vision of where things should go," Blade says. "But he also has the unique ability to draw people in and relate to people. At his core, he is an individual who wants to make a difference in the lives of everyone he meets."
$1 million gift was raised from 55 donors, including Fetter's family, friends, colleagues, and former students.
Cindy Conover Dashnaw
from Spring 2018
Why would a man who graduated cum laude with three job offers accept the one that didn't quite match either of his two Butler University degrees?
Because this offer came from Google, and "I think I would've been kicking myself if I hadn't taken it," said Chad Pingel '16.
The Des Moines, Iowa, native hasn't allowed himself many chances to kick himself for passing up opportunities in his life—or for failing to make the most of them. And though he earned degrees in Finance and Marketing with an Ethics minor, Pingel may have found his activities outside Butler's classrooms the most educational.
"I was interested in forming relationships with folks who had unique and varied experiences. One of the core pieces to my time at Butler was how the campus fostered relationships from chance encounters and random experiences."
Taking his parents' lifelong advice to always make the most of the chances he's given, Pingel quickly became a Student Ambassador and a member of the Student Government Association, eventually becoming Student Body President.
"Being in SGA was the perfect opportunity to serve as a liaison between groups. We were hearing students' concerns directly and then championing them to staff, faculty, and administration," he said. "Some of my proudest accomplishments happened in SGA."
Pingel led initiatives to persuade IndyGo to reroute city buses through campus, and to court student input and buy-in around plans for new student residences.
"The plans were a bit of a shift in perspective for students who had lived in Ross Hall, like I did, and we didn't want to lose the community feeling we had created there," he said.
Pingel threw himself into the Lacy School of Business with the same sense of purpose. He cites three specific sources of the business mentality and work ethic he took to Google: The Real Business Experience (RBE), a financial portfolio management class, and the Butler Business Consulting Group (BBCG).
RBE teaches students how to finance and market a project, take informed risks, and manage a real business "just like out in the real world." In the financial portfolio management class, Pingel and his team were allowed to invest and manage $2 million of the University's endowment money. (They finished 80 basis points up.)
"I knew I was interested in assessing companies and the quality of an investment, but we got to go beyond that and develop higher-level skills by looking at overall business values," he said.
Finally, Pingel said joining the BBCG was "one of the most exciting and valuable chances of my life. We got to help the NCAA better align their internal feedback and approach to setting goals. It was a dream project."
Then came a job at one of the most successful companies in the world.
Google receives two million resumes every year. Pingel's first position was in Human Resources, diving into that enormous stack of candidates to recruit for finance positions. Itching to get back to actual Finance a year later, he became a Finance Automation System Administrator, the position he holds today.
Though he said Google is such a leader in automation that no university could have fully prepared him for what he's doing now, Pingel said he left Butler knowing how to assess information and maintain a work-life balance.
"I learned a lot about professional life, but also how to show yourself as someone who can have fun and relate to people," he said. "And professors like Dr. Paul Valliere taught me the importance of staying intellectually curious. The ability to think creatively helps me every day—at Google and in life."
Working at Google in California puts Chad Pingel '16 far from his Iowa family and his Butler family, too. He decided to stay connected and give back to the University by funding the Pingel Family Scholarship.
"I created a scholarship in my family's name because I recognize all the sacrifices my parents made to put themselves through school. They worked two and three jobs, and I am so lucky that I could attend a great school like Butler without having to worry about finances," he said. "Now, I get to give a similar chance to another student every year that could make the difference for them being able to attend Butler's business school."
by Cindy Conover Dashnaw
Spring 2018
by Cindy Conover Dashnaw from
Spring 2018
BY Jennifer Gunnels
PUBLISHED ON Feb 12 2019
INDIANAPOLIS – Friends and fraternity brothers of 1989 Butler University graduate Matt White have made a major gift to Butler University toward the second phase of renovations to Hinkle Fieldhouse, set to begin in May 2019. With the gift, the donors have chosen to honor White, who passed away after a 19-year battle with ALS on Friday, Feb. 8, by naming the practice court in the Efroymson Family Gym in his memory. The practice court will hereafter be known as the Matt White Court.
White was a standout member of the track and cross country teams during his years at Butler and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Throughout White's life, and particularly throughout his battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, he embodied The Butler Way, accepting the realities of a debilitating disease with grace while putting others above himself.
The donation to the Athletics Capital Improvement fund in White's honor is a fitting tribute to a tenacious and loyal Bulldog who maintained a fierce devotion to Butler Athletics throughout his life, expressing in his final days a desire to watch one last Butler men's basketball game. After White passed away Friday evening surrounded by friends and family, the Bulldogs posted a road win at Georgetown Saturday afternoon in his honor.
"Every Bulldog has a lot to learn about The Butler Way from Matt, his story and his toughness," said Barry Collier, Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics. "Some have referred to Matt as Butler's biggest fan. And while that might be true, Matt should also be known as one of Butler's most inspiring Bulldogs for the way he lived his life."
After earning his telecommunications degree from Butler in 1989, White went on to a successful career in advertising sales with Emmis Communications. White retired to Florida a few years after his ALS diagnosis in 2000, and despite being given a short and grim prognosis, White made the most of his remaining years with his wife Shartrina, his parents, and a large group of devoted friends.
Despite losing the ability to speak, eat and move, White found ways to continue enjoying many of the things he loved, including fishing in the Gulf waters off the west coast of Florida near his home with the help of his family and an innovative fishing pole he could control with his eye movements. He also remained devoted to following Butler Athletics. When Butler competed in the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2010, Coach Brad Stevens invited White to speak to the team before the semifinal matchup. White labored for days at his computer to type out a speech, which Shartrina read to the team.
"I try to live like you play," he wrote. "You are my inspiration."
White long outlived his original prognosis and inspired all who knew him, particularly his Butler family.
"I know I speak for a lot of former Bulldogs when I say we are thankful to have gotten a chance to know Matt," said Stevens, Butler's men's basketball coach from 2007-13. "Despite all that he was battling, his spirits were always focused on helping others, and his words always were inspiring and encouraging."
The Matt White Court will serve as a daily reminder of a beloved Bulldog's grit, determination, and devotion to Butler Athletics. This legacy gift will continue to inspire future generations of Bulldogs in White's memory and will support major enhancements to the Efroymson Family Gym. With new flooring, lighting, and air conditioning, the renovated gym will mirror the look of the main Hinkle Fieldhouse court. The renovations will also include installing air conditioning throughout Hinkle Fieldhouse and refurbishment of the Men's Soccer locker room.
The Matt White Scholarship was previously established at Butler University in 2004 by White's family and friends as a way to pay tribute to a great Bulldog. The scholarship supports Butler student-athletes with preference given to those who share Matt's interest in the field of broadcast communications. On Saturday (Feb. 16), Butler's men's basketball team will host DePaul at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler is planning a "Matt White-out" and asks fans to wear white to celebrate his life.
"Matt White represented the very best of Butler University," said Butler University President James Danko. "His courage, wisdom, and perseverance inspired us all. We are grateful that through this generous gift to name the Matt White Court, future generations of student-athletes can be inspired by Matt's legacy as they train on the floor bearing his name."
About Butler University
An influx of philanthropic support has aided Butler University's dramatic growth in recent years. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, the Sunset Avenue parking garage including a streetscape beautification project and renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, the University partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open the doors to its new 110,000 square foot home in the fall of 2019, and fundraising is underway to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 541 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 39 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University's 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review's annual "best colleges" guidebook
The practice court in the Efoymson Family Gym will hereafter be known as the Matt White Court.
BY Marc Allan
PUBLISHED ON Sep 24 2018
Myrtle Hardesty '54 left Butler University before graduating, but the two years she spent as a Bulldog always meant something to her and her family.
So when she died in 2017, at age 95, she left the University a gift of $1.25 million to go toward scholarships in the College of Education.
The Myrtle Browning and James E. Hardesty Endowed Scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students who have financial need, are majors in the College of Education, and have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
"She was one of those people who realized that she had been given a lot in life, and when you're given so much, you should turn around and give back," said Ena Shelley, Dean of the College of Education.
"That was very much what she was about—giving back. We will make sure we do a good job with the gift she has given to us."
Mrs. Hardesty told Dean Shelley she wanted the College of Education at Butler University to have the gift because her mother and father had been so proud of her for getting to Butler and for later becoming a teacher.
Myrtle Browning spent two years at Butler. She married an engineer named James Hardesty—they were together more than 40 years—and moved to New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's and master's in teaching and counseling from Montclair State University, and spent her career as a guidance counselor at the Hubbard Middle School in Plainfield, New Jersey.
In her retirement, she liked to spend time in the art studio in her home. In addition to her monetary gift, she also left one of her paintings to the College of Education.
Dean Shelley visited Mrs. Hardesty at her home in New Jersey in early 2017 and described her as "absolutely darling. I'm so glad I got to meet her. She was such a sweet, sweet woman."
The Dean said the Hardesty gift is going to make it possible for Butler to educate more teachers.
"This is a great step forward in meeting the teacher shortage demands and for us to have some resources to offer students," she said. "This helps our ability to bring more students in to teacher education."
This gift supports the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan which was approved by the Board of Trustees in the fall of 2013. Butler 2020 charts a bold course for Butler's future through which it will preserve the University's unique character, distinguish Butler as a school of choice for exceptional students, and increase its national prominence. In support of Butler 2020, the University has invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts and two undergraduate residential communities, Fairview House and Irvington House. In the fall of 2019, the Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open a new 110,000 square foot building. Additionally, Butler is actively fundraising to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation. To learn more, visit butler.edu.
Media contact:
Marc Allan MFA '18
News Manager
The Myrtle Browning & James E. Hardesty Endowed Scholarships will be awarded to students with financial need.
PUBLISHED ON Aug 01 2018
Jay Sandhu '87 wanted to honor his father, Chain. So when the opportunity arose to name the garden terrace in Butler's new Lacy School of Business building for his father, he and his wife, Roop, said yes.
"The reason I am where I am is in no small part due to his hard work and guidance," said Sandhu, chair of Butler's Board of Trustees and CEO of NYX, an automotive supplier his father purchased in 1989, which has grown from 30 employees and $2 million in sales to 2,400 employees in four countries and nearly $600 million in sales. "He allowed me to come to Butler even after I said I wasn't going to be a doctor. He was my boss, mentor, father, and his hard work since the family emigrated from India is reason we live the life we do. He loves gardens, he loves business, so the garden terrace space seemed like a beautiful spot."
Sandhu, a Biology and Physics major at Butler, got his first look at the new building during a tour in June. He found himself "totally blown away" by what he saw—from the majestic atrium to the serenity of the view from the top-floor garden terrace. He expects the finished product, which is scheduled to open in fall 2019, to be transformative for business education at Butler, and he hopes to inspire others to contribute.
"It's not so much the number," he said. "As a trustee and chairman, obviously I'd like the number to be as big as possible, but I think it's more about having that connection with Butler, supporting Butler, to the extent that feels good. I know supporting Butler in this way has given me more happiness than I can describe. It feels good to support the school that I think so much of."
Jay Sandhu, and his wife, Roop, wanted to honor Jay's father through a gift to the Lacy School of Business.
PUBLISHED ON Jun 18 2018
Butler University's Board of Trustees welcomed four new members during its annual board meeting in June.
Jeffrey A. Blade '83, Nick Musial '02, Stephen Sterrett, and Amy E. Wierenga '01 were appointed. The new trustees began their appointments at board meetings that took place June 7 and 8 on Butler's campus.
"We are excited to welcome our new trustees to the board," Chairman Jay Sandhu said. "We look forward to their combination of talent, varied experiences, insights, and enthusiasm for Butler. We know these four individuals are extremely well qualified and well positioned to further strengthening our institution."
In addition to welcoming new members, the board celebrated the service of three outgoing trustees. Craig Fenneman '71 and Jim White retired after 15 years of service on the board. Outgoing Alumni Association President Beth Morris left the board, as her two-year appointment ended.
"We are grateful to Craig, Jim, and Beth for their service, dedication, and generosity to Butler University," President Jim Danko said. "The entire Butler community has benefitted from their leadership and investment as trustees."
Blade graduated from Butler with a B.S. in Accounting. He received his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1991. While at Butler, he was the founding President of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. He is also a past member of the Lacy School of Business Board of Visitors and currently serves on the Advisory Board for Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business. Blade is the CEO of Matilda Jane Clothing LLC in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Musial received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Butler. As a student, the Indiana Certified Public Accountants Society recognized him as the outstanding senior accounting major. He served on Butler's Young Alumni Board from 2007 to 2010, and he and his wife, Elizabeth '05 MBA '08, received the Ovid Butler Society's Foundation Award in 2013. Musial is the incoming Alumni Association President and serves as the Vice President of Finance at Allegion in Carmel, Indiana.
Sterrett earned a B.S. in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from Indiana University in 1977 and 1983, respectively. He serves on the boards of the Indiana Golf Foundation, the Indiana State Seniors Golf Association, and Tindley Accelerated Schools. He also is a member of the Advisory Board for IU's Benecki Center for Real Estate Studies, and he is a former board member of the Simon Youth Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Christian Theological Seminary, Catholic Youth Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Sterrett retired as the CFO of Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. in 2014.
Wierenga graduated from Butler with a B.S. in Economics and Music. She was a Top 100 Outstanding Student, as well as a member of Resident Life staff, Butler Symphony Orchestra, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, and the track and cross country teams. She earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is currently a partner and chief risk officer at Blue Mountain Capital Management LLC in New York.
Butler has a 35-member board. Trustees are selected by the committee on trusteeship, and then voted on by the full board.
Board also says goodbye and thanks to Craig Fenneman, Jim White, and Beth Morris.
PUBLISHED ON Sep 13 2018
Butler University celebrated the launch of the inaugural Carillon Society on Wednesday, September 12, honoring those individuals whose cumulative giving reached $100,000. Two hundred and forty-eight honorees were inducted into the university's most prestigious donor recognition society, representing more than $73 million in total philanthropic support for the University.
In addressing the honorees, President James M. Danko reflected that "woven through our history are the names of individuals who saw a bright vision for the future and invested in the innovative ideas of their time and place making that vision a reality. Those generous philanthropists from Butler's founding have passed the torch to each of you in the room tonight. Together, you have accepted the challenge to continue moving Butler forward."
Carillon Society honoree giving has impacted nearly every corner of the University. Collectively, they have established more than 50 endowed scholarships and provided significant support for the Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Butler Fund, the Bulldog Club, the Butler Arts Center, the new Lacy School of Business Building, the Science Complex expansion and renovation, and each of the six academic colleges.
This influx of philanthropic support has been a critical element to Butler University's dramatic growth under the leadership of President Danko. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings.
In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts and partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities, in addition to renovating Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open the doors to its new 110,000 square foot home in the fall of 2019, and fundraising is underway to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
The Carillon Society celebration will be an annual event honoring those who reach status in the previous year.
About Butler University
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 541 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 39 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will have participated in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University's 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review's annual "best colleges" guidebook.
Media Contact:
Marc Allan
Butler University celebrated the launch of the inaugural Carillon Society on Wednesday, September 12.
PUBLISHED ON Mar 14 2019
INDIANAPOLIS – Twelve donor families have made gifts of $1 million or more to Butler University since 2016 to support the construction of a new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business. The atrium of the new building, which was designed by CSO Architects, and is set to open in fall 2019, will be named the Founders Circle Atrium in honor of the group for their visionary investment in the future of Butler, and the lives of future generations of business students.
Enrollment in the School has grown 60 percent in the past five years, forcing half of business classes to be held outside of the school's current home in the Holcomb Building. The new state-of-the-art business school facility, set just inside the entrance to campus near 46th Street and Sunset Avenue, will provide 110,000-square feet of new space and allow all business school classes and activities to take place within the same building. The facility will also provide space for collaboration with the business community, reflecting a culture of mutual learning where faculty, staff, and students will work alongside business community members as true partners. As a hub of collaboration, the Founders Circle Atrium will feature the Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business, McGould Investment Room, and Innovation Commons.
"Our Founders Circle donors are visionaries who understand that a strong Butler business program is good for our students, good for our city, and good for the region," says Steve Standifird, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. "These leaders are great friends to the Lacy School of Business and role models for our students in the way they conduct themselves in business and in life."
The first among the Founders Circle donors were Andre and Julia Lacy, whose $25 million gift to name the School in 2016 paved the way for construction of the new facility. A portion of their transformational gift was designated to support the new building, and other donors quickly followed suit. Among the Founders Circle are six current or former members of Butler's Board of Trustees, along with nine alumni of the Lacy School of Business.
"Sometimes buildings are just symbolic and not that much really happens inside that makes a difference. I think this building will be entirely different," says Keith Faller, a Butler Trustee, alumnus, and Founders Circle donor. "Butler has lived up to the 'real business' mantra. They offer so many internship opportunities and business relationship opportunities to their students and it's not just a one-way street. I think the Central Indiana and Indiana business communities have benefitted from this also."
The School's move out of the Holcomb Building into the new facility will free up space for Butler's science programs to expand into the vacated space. As part of the University's master plan, the Holcomb Building is set for renovation, expansion, and connection to Gallahue Hall as part of a major investment in the sciences in the coming years.
"Our Founders Circle donors led the way for a new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business through their generosity and commitment," says Butler President James Danko. "We are extremely grateful for their leadership and investment in the future of Butler University."
Andre B. Lacy School of Business Building
Founders Circle Atrium Donors
Keith MBA '90 and Tina Burks
John '62 and Judy Cooke
Rollie and Cheri Dick
Bill Dugan '51
Keith '71 MBA '78 and Sarah Faller MBA '90
Craig Fenneman '71 and Mary Stover-Fenneman
Andrew Greenlee '90
Andre and Julia Lacy and Family
Bobby and Jill Le Blanc
Kurt and Linda Mahrdt
Jatinder-Bir "Jay" '87 and Roop Sandhu
Hershel B. Whitney '52
About Butler University
An influx of philanthropic support has aided Butler University's dramatic growth in recent years. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, the Sunset Avenue parking garage including a streetscape beautification project and renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, the University partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open the doors to its new 110,000 square foot home in the fall of 2019, and fundraising is underway to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 541 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 39 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University's 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review's annual "best colleges" guidebook.
The new facility will allow all business school classes and activities to be in the same place.
PUBLISHED ON Jun 25 2019
INDIANAPOLIS – Craig Fenneman '71 and Mary Stover-Fenneman have made a $5 million commitment to Butler University. The gift will provide support for the expansion and renovation of the University's sciences complex, construction of the new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business (LSB), the Craig Fenneman Endowed Scholarship, and future University priorities.
Fenneman earned his Butler undergraduate degree in Economics in 1971, and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees, including serving as Board Chair from 2011-2014.
"Butler University is a school on the rise and we are proud to support the incredible work happening on campus," Fenneman says. "My own life has been shaped by my Butler experience, and Mary and I are pleased to help ensure Butler remains a premier institution for future generations of students."
The gift will help enhance the University's sciences facilities, which has been a top priority under the Butler 2020 strategic plan. In recognition of their gift, the couple will be honored, along with other lead donors to the sciences expansion and renovation project, in the new atrium of the sciences complex.
Fenneman established the Craig Fenneman Endowed Scholarship in 2003 to benefit students pursuing an economics degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Endowed scholarship support is among Butler's current chief funding priorities as the University seeks to ensure the long-term sustainability of its financial aid program. Butler annually invests more than $78 million in student scholarship support.
The couple's support for the new building for the LSB places them with 11 other families in the Founders Circle, a group of lead donors who have committed $1 million or more to the project since 2016. The new building will open for classes in fall.
"Butler students in each of our six colleges have directly benefitted from Craig and Mary's generosity throughout the years," says Provost Kate Morris. "Their gifts are improving the quality of our teaching facilities, increasing student access through scholarships, and strengthening our ability to partner with the local community in providing experiential learning opportunities for our students."
Fenneman and Stover-Fenneman are honorees of Butler's premier philanthropic giving community, the Carillon Society, and recognized on Cornerstone Plaza for their generous lifetime giving to Butler. Their previous philanthropic support has benefitted the Butler Fund, the Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Butler Rising Campaign, and the Butler Business Consulting Group.
"We are deeply grateful to Craig and Mary for their significant investment in the lives of our students," says Butler President James Danko. "Butler University is experiencing an exciting era of growth, and this transformational commitment will fuel our vision for the future."
Craig Fenneman '71 and Mary Stover-Fenneman have made a $5 million commitment to Butler University.
PUBLISHED ON Oct 05 2019
INDIANAPOLIS—Butler University today unveiled its new strategic direction and largest ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. Butler Beyond: The Campaign for Butler University seeks to raise $250 million by May 2022 to deliver transformative change to the University, region, and the world.
To date, the campaign has raised more than $171 million from more than 27,000 donors.
"Our strategy for Butler Beyond acknowledges the reality that the higher education landscape is changing, and we must change with it," President James Danko says. "We intend to hold firmly to the traditions and values that have always defined a Butler education, while evolving to meet the changing needs and expectations of learners, employers, and society in the 21st century. Philanthropic support will be absolutely essential to achieving this vision."
Combining tradition with innovation, the new strategic direction will build upon Butler's strengths in delivering an exceptional undergraduate residential education, while expanding to offer opportunities for lifelong learning and new educational pathways that are more affordable and flexible.
These new opportunities include growth in customized corporate education programs, non-degree certificates and credentials, and community-focused talent development programs. Butler's founding mission that everyone deserves access to a high-quality education regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status will be the guiding light for Butler Beyond as the University aims to reimagine a Butler education that is accessible to all learners.
The Butler Beyond campaign is organized around three pillars aimed to fuel this new strategic direction: student access and success, innovations in teaching and learning, and community partnerships.
"These Butler Beyond campaign pillars represent areas for philanthropic investment that will fuel our vision for the future," Vice President for University Advancement Jonathan Purvis says. "These priorities were developed with input from donors, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners who helped to identify the areas where Butler University is uniquely positioned to ignite positive change. Support for these strategic initiatives will propel our vision of transforming lives through education at Butler and beyond."
Campaign funds will empower students by expanding donor funded scholarship support and other resources needed to ensure student success, elevate learning by further investing in high-impact practices and faculty development, and engage communities through innovative partnerships and collaborative programs.
Student Access and Success
As Butler works to solve the problem of higher education affordability, growing the University's financial aid program through donor funded scholarships will be essential. And, welcoming students of all ages, life stages, and backgrounds will require robust student support services.
In 2018-2019, the University provided more than $78 million in scholarships to students. Of that total, only $3.2 million was funded through scholarship endowment or other philanthropic support. Closing this nearly $75 million gap in annual scholarship costs is essential to removing financial barriers for all students.
To address the challenge of affordability, growing the scholarship endowment and the annual Butler Fund for Student Scholarship will be key funding priorities during the campaign.
Innovations in Teaching and Learning
Recruiting, developing, and retaining the nation's top educators and scholars is another chief goal of the campaign. State-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research, as well as funding to support ongoing training and development, are crucial for recruiting and keeping top talent.
Among the key funding priorities in the category of innovations in teaching and learning are the growth of Faculty Opportunity Funds, the Sciences Expansion and Renovation Project, and the new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business.
"The work our faculty do with students on a daily basis—teaching, mentoring, and student-faculty collaborative research—makes up the very foundation of a Butler education," Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kate Morris says. "One of the most effective ways to support Butler students is to invest in the ongoing development of our faculty."
Community Partnerships
Strengthening community partnerships is a particular point of emphasis in the new strategic direction. Increasing Butler's engagement with businesses, community organizations, educational providers, and government entities will lead to new academic programs, ventures, and experiences for Butler students. These mutually beneficial partnerships will enable faculty, students, and community partners to work together in tackling complex issues facing the region.
These collaborations will also provide experiential learning opportunities for Butler students, while responding to the educational needs of our communities and corporations through the co-creation of new education and talent solutions.
To this end, a key funding priority for community partnerships is the newly established Transformation Fund, which is aimed at fueling the development of new educational models and advancing projects that contribute to the long-term vision of the University. The Transformation Fund will also provide a means to invest in new ventures supporting Butler's desire to think differently about the future of higher education.
"Great universities have great responsibility for positively impacting the communities in which they reside," Vice President of Strategy and Innovation Melissa Beckwith says. "Butler is committed to developing talent that meets workforce needs, offering programs and experiences that contribute to the city's vibrant culture, and encouraging creativity in solving some of our community's most pressing challenges."
Unprecedented Philanthropic Support
Butler has been the recipient of unprecedented levels of philanthropic support during the campaign's quiet phase, which started June 1, 2015.
"Investing in Butler's future at this pivotal moment will result in lives changed in our community and around the world through expanded access to a Butler education and through the meaningful work Butler graduates will go on to do with their lives," says campaign co-chair Tina Burks.
"We are convinced that every gift to this campaign will have ripple effects beyond our imagination for years to come," added Campaign Co-Chair Keith Burks MBA '90. "We are thankful for the many generous donors who have already made a lasting impact through support of Butler Beyond."
Many noteworthy gifts have been previously announced during the campaign quiet phase, including the following:
Butler Beyond: The Campaign for Butler University is the University's largest-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal of $250 million. The campaign will conclude May 31, 2022.
Media Contact:
Rachel Stern
Director of Strategic Communications
Butler Beyond seeks to raise $250 million by May 2022 to deliver transformative change.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Sean '89 and Erin McGould '93 have made a $1 million gift to Butler University to name the investment room of the new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business. The building will open in the fall 0f 2019.
The new McGould Investment Room will include state-of-the-art technology along with eight Bloomberg terminals. The space will serve as the home to the University's Student-Managed Investment Fund, a real investment portfolio worth $3 million managed exclusively by students for the University.
"Regardless of your profession in life, you are going to have to save money and invest for the future. Learning how to invest and allocate capital is important to everyone," said Sean McGould. "We thought it would be great that students would have a dedicated space to explore investing."
Sean, an Accounting major while at Butler, currently serves on the Lacy School of Business Dean's Advisory Council and is the CEO of Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. As a student, he was a senior class officer and a member of the baseball team and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Erin is a graduate of the Jordan College of the Arts and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She is an avid volunteer for Butler University and the West Palm Beach community.
"Butler taught both of us how to think critically. In my opinion, the goal of an education is learning to think for yourself and being able to work through problems," said Sean McGould. "We will continue to contribute to Butler because we believe in the value of education and how Butler delivers the college experience in a unique format that prepares students for life after college."
An influx of philanthropic support has aided Butler University's dramatic growth in recent years. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past six years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, the Sunset Avenue parking garage including a streetscape beautification project and renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, the University partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business will open the doors to its new 110,000-square-foot home in the fall of 2019, and fundraising is underway to complete a $93 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
About Butler University
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 541 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 39 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University's 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review's annual "best colleges" guidebook.
The new McGould Investment Room will include state-of-the-art technology along with eight Bloomberg terminals.
PUBLISHED ON Jun 05 2019
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler University Trustee Bryan Brenner '95 and his wife Elaine '94 have donated $250,000 toward construction of the new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business, which will officially open in August. In recognition of the gift, the Career Development Interview Suite in the new building will be named the FirstPerson Interview Suite in honor of FirstPerson, Inc., the Indianapolis-based benefits and compensation consulting company founded and run by Brenner.
FirstPerson, Inc. has a long history of hiring Butler students as interns, many of whom have gone on to full-time careers at FirstPerson after graduation. The company is committed to people development, including philanthropic work in the community through the PEEP Project—Personally Enriching and Embracing People. Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana in 2019, FirstPerson's passion for personal and professional development made the gift to name the career interview suite a perfect fit for Brenner.
"Elaine and I have a deep connection with Butler and consider our alma mater a foundational part of our larger life in Indianapolis," Brenner says. "The University's community focus and forward thinking has been a platform for growing FirstPerson and stepping into initiatives Elaine and I have launched to invest in the health and vitality of central Indiana."
Annually, Brenner hosts a Dinner With 10 Bulldogs, a Butler program designed to give students a chance to meet successful graduates and explore opportunities that may be available to them after Butler. Each year, Brenner and other Butler graduates from FirstPerson welcome 10 Butler students to the FirstPerson headquarters to socialize, network, and build relationships. Brenner has hired a number of students he has met through the dinner parties as FirstPerson interns.
"FirstPerson is genuinely committed to the personal and professional development of their employees and our students," says Steve Standifird, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. "Bryan and Elaine have been generous and thoughtful partners in seeking innovative ways to provide opportunities for our students to learn and grow, both through their own personal contributions and through FirstPerson."
Among the many enhanced opportunities made possible by the new Lacy School of Business building is the ability to bring all of the University's career development services into the same space on campus. Previously, career services for students studying in the Lacy School of Business was housed separately from the University's central Internship and Career Services team.
The new comprehensive career development suite will provide a more streamlined experience both for companies looking to recruit Butler students and for Butler students seeking career opportunities to match their diverse skill sets. Located on the first floor of the new building near the entrance of Butler's campus, the FirstPerson Interview Suite includes seven interview rooms, a recruiting lounge, and a conference room.
"The Brenners have been incredibly generous to Butler through their gifts of time and resources," says Butler President James Danko. "We are pleased to recognize FirstPerson's significant partnership in preparing our students for meaningful careers through the FirstPerson Interview Suite."
In addition to Butler, the Brenners support Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indy Chamber, The Oaks Academy, University High School, and agencies of the United Way, in addition to establishing the MBA Board Fellow program for nonprofit management at Lacy School of Business.
Trustee Bryan Brenner '95 and wife Elaine '94 give $250,000 for the Lacy School of Business building.
BY Peyton Thompson '20
PUBLISHED ON Jan 23 2018
If you see a polar bear on Butler's campus, don't be alarmed. In fact, be encouraged. Junior Butler Ambassadors for Special Olympics (BASO) co-chair Alyssa Del Priore dressed as the Polar Plunge polar bear mascot on Wednesday, January 17—better known as "super sign-up day"—to encourage her fellow students to take the Polar Plunge.
"We got over 400 people to sign up in one day," Del Priore said. "I wanted to get as many people as possible, so I put on the polar bear suit and walked around campus. Although we got a bunch of people to sign up, we really encourage everyone to not only sign up but also fundraise and show up to the event!"
During Butler's ninth annual Polar Plunge, which will take place on February 10 at 9:00 AM outside the Health and Recreation Center, participants will jump into a pool of freezing water to benefit the Washington Township chapter of Special Olympics.
The goal is to raise $60,000 to help support sports training and athletic competition for more than 13,000 Special Olympics Indiana athletes. BASO is about 25 percent of the way toward that goal.
The Polar Plunge is now 16 years old. Most of the events take place on college campuses "because there is a big support system within campuses and it promotes inclusivity and raises money for a great cause," Del Priore said.
But Butler's Polar Plunge is not only for Butler students.
"Anyone can participate," DelPriore said. "Students, faculty, members of the Butler/Indianapolis community, family members, friends, anyone and everyone as long as they are at least 15 years of age or a freshman in high school."
Although jumping into the body of water will be the main attraction, there will also be various activities and games that will bring the Butler community and athletes of the Special Olympics together.
Alyssa's Fundraising Tips
The annual Polar Plunge takes place February 10.
Megan Ward MS '13
It's not about the location or the menu for that matter. I mean, let's not kid ourselves—college students are all about a home-cooked meal. But, what a Dinner with 10 Bulldogs is really about is the energy and connections made between students and alumni.
Just ask Bryan Brenner '95, CEO of FirstPerson and current Butler Trustee, who was hooked after hosting a dinner. "I've hosted a few of these because they inspire me—the eagerness of students to connect ... It reminds me to go for big goals in my own life and to encourage others."
Curious how Butler students feel about Dinner with 10 Bulldogs? Look no further than Logan Schwering '18, who has engaged with alumni in various contexts, but says the Dinner with 10 Bulldogs is the most memorable. "It's motivating and inspiring to see how much success Butler alumni have achieved. The dinners lead to connections that last a lifetime."
In Schwering's case, it also led to an internship with FirstPerson. As Brenner puts it,
"[The dinner] gives us access to great future talent! It's also a great opportunity to reconnect to the purpose and values of Butler. I've instilled those values in my company. "
These values—trust, collaboration, and innovation, to name a few— are important to Butler students and many seek those values in an employer. It should come as no surprise, then, that FirstPerson has seven Butler alumni on staff and several Butler interns.
So what kind of company is FirstPerson? It's an Indianapolis-based strategic business advisory that helps organizations of all sizes become better businesses by developing smarter people strategies. Their core solutions—benefits and compensation, leadership and infrastructure, and community and culture—help organizations design meaningful employment experiences, resulting in healthier employees and a more productive business.
"I do market research, benchmarking, sales support, and build community partnerships," Schwering explained of his internship role, where he assists the small group team (clients with less than 200 employees). And with so many Butler alumni on staff, I wasn't shocked to learn that Schwering reports to one—Alli Isaacs '10, who is a Strategist in the organization.
His connection to Butler alumni at FirstPerson doesn't end there. Schwering was introduced to FirstPerson by Mark Minner '12, a Managing Director with the company. Minner and Schwering met through their mutual involvement in Phi Delta Theta. Schwering's role in Student Government Association (SGA) also gave him opportunities to speak with and present to Butler Trustees, including Brenner.
About a year later, FirstPerson hosted a Dinner with 10 Bulldogs event and Schwering attended. He interacted with Brenner and Minner at the dinner and, as they say, the rest is history.
For those of you thinking about hosting a Dinner with 10 Bulldogs, Brenner has some advice: "Do it! You'll be energized by the rich personalities of Butler students, and their capacity for understanding the world around them. You'll remember why you love Butler, and discover new ways to engage with your alma mater."
Still on the fence? Schwering reassures me that Butler students want to hear about your Butler experience. He also added, "If it's the food selection that has you worried, fear not. Anything homemade or from a restaurant is likely better than what we would have eaten in the dining hall or made on our own."
See, I told you it wasn't about the menu.
Collaborate with and inspire Butler students while making connections that will last a lifetime. To host a Dinner With 10 Bulldogs, please visit butler.edu/busf/dinner-10-bulldogs. You will be energized to reconnect with Butler while encouraging students to "go for big dreams."
On the menu: trust, collaboration, innovation, and connections
by Megan Ward MS '13
by Megan Ward MS '13 from
Spring 2018
When legendary Coach Tony Hinkle first touted The Butler Way, it was the pinnacle for which to strive—not just on the court, but throughout life, long after hanging up the uniform. The Butler Way demands commitment, denies selfishness and accepts reality, yet seeks constant improvement while promoting the good of the team above self.
Joel Cornette '03 embodied The Butler Way both during his time at Butler University and his post-graduate years. He was a member of the first Bulldog Sweet 16 team in 2003; his 144 career blocks and .544 career field goal percentage also rank among the Top 10 in Butler history. He later served as a member of the Butler coaching staff from for the 2006–2007 season as the team's Coordinator of Basketball Operations before going to Iowa as a member of Todd Lickliter's staff. He was an NBPA-certified player-agent, serving as the Director of Basketball recruiting for Priority Sports since January 2012.
Tragically, Cornette passed away of natural causes last August at age 35. It was a loss that shook his family and friends to the core, as well as both the Butler community and peers in the world of athletics.
In the wake of such an inexplicable loss, those who loved him most chose to commemorate him in a means of which they knew he would approve. The Joel Cornette Scholarship Fund was established by his family and Butler University to provide support for future Bulldogs.
"Through the generous support of our donors, we've been able to establish this scholarship program/fund, that will guarantee there will be monies available for deserving student athletes now and into the future," said Ken LaRose, Associate Athletic Director for Development. "We are able to pay tribute to these special people while offering the gift of education to our student athletes."
As a testament to this inspiring young man, at least five Butler head coaches (past and present), immediately donated to the fund along with scores of others, expediting the scholarship to be fully funded at the endowed level of $50,000.
"We could never out give what he gave to the institution," said Todd Lickliter, Cornette's coach while at Butler. "It was such an honor to have been involved with him, and the scholarship will continue his good works."
Lickliter points to a well-known mantra often emphasized by former Lacy School of Business Dean Richard Fetter: "If you do well, do good."
"Joel did both," he said. "He epitomized what it meant to be a true student athlete. Not only did he earn a distinguished degree, but he opened the door for others through his play on the court as well as his ability to articulate his vision and what Butler meant to him. He naturally drew people to the institution. He did well, and he did good."
Contributions in Joel's honor may be made online or by check to Butler University Advancement, 4600 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46208.
Marc D. Allan MFA '18
As a student, Marc Williams '07 spent as much time as possible in Fairbanks, Room 050, working on his music and learning audio production.
"I just threw myself into that," he said. "Admittedly, I didn't think of what it would be like for me after college. I was just so in love with having the opportunity to be hands-on with equipment I could never afford in my entire life. I thought that was such a great opportunity. I was all-in when it came to that."
What it's been like since college has been a mix that takes advantage of Williams' many talents. He is, depending on the time of day: A special-education teacher at Fishers (Indiana) High School; the on-court emcee at Butler Men's Basketball home games; a recording artist and deejay (known as Mr. Kinetik; his latest record is called Voyager); event producer and promoter (Fam Jaaams, a family-oriented dance party, is his newest event); and Adjunct Professor at Butler, where he teaches "A World of Hip-Hop," a course on the global impact of rap culture. Not to mention husband and father.
The through line for all of this? Butler.
"Butler is where I was able to figure out who I really wanted to be," he said. "As I was learning new information, I was able to form a more detailed perspective about myself and my place in the world. I met people from all over the world, had support from incredible people, and was able to experience things in ways I really never imagined."
Williams came to Butler from Dayton, Ohio, in 2003—two years after his sister Danielle—for the Engineering Dual Degree Program. When that major didn't fit, he switched to Recording Industry Studies.
"Best decision I made in college in terms of academics," he said.
After graduation, Williams went back to Dayton to work for a car dealership management software company, then returned to Indianapolis in 2008 for a job with a company that sold copy machines. "I hated every part of it," he said.
He saw an ad on Career Builder for a transition-to-teaching program. "I thought, I like young people and I like working with people and watching them become better," he said. "I thought it would be nice to do because there were so many educators who had helped teach me. I thought it would be a cool thing to do and give back. A philanthropic vibe. I thought I was going to save the world from a classroom."
Williams is now in his 10th year of teaching at Fishers, where his classes include Algebra 1, English 10, and a basic reading/writing skills class—and he has found his niche. He approaches teaching this way: Students are like plants. Some of them will grow fast, some will take a while, some will take more work than others, some might not grow the way you want them to.
He approaches his role as on-court emcee—a position he pioneered during the 2009–2010 season—with the same kind of thoughtfulness. "I'm not really the center of attention, as much as it may seem like it. I just want people to be engaged and have a good time and establish an environment that helps the team play better."
And just as Williams enjoys helping to excite the Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd, he's just as happy to have a chance to spend time at his alma mater.
"Butler is my home away from home," Williams said. "I hope I'll always have a way to be somewhere around 4600 Sunset Avenue for the rest of my life."
"I thought I was going to save the world from a classroom."
by Marc D. Allan MFA '18
by Marc D. Allan MFA '18 from
Spring 2018
PUBLISHED ON Jun 08 2017
Transformational gift will improve science facilities, enhance undergraduate research.
Butler University alumnus Frank Levinson '75, a longtime Butler benefactor whose past gifts enabled Butler to upgrade its science programs and purchase its first supercomputer, is generously providing the University with a new $5 million gift to support the sciences. Enrollment in the sciences at Butler has increased nearly 50 percent over the last decade.
Frank Levinson
Levinson's gift will be integral to the transformation of Butler's science teaching and laboratory spaces, building on the University's undergraduate research emphasis—recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best programs of its kind in the nation. The new facilities, designed to complement those of local and global science and health/life sciences companies, will enable Butler to collaborate more fully with and provide talent to these firms as well as prepare students for further study in the best graduate and post-professional programs.
Levinson grew up in Indianapolis and he and his family have a deep, multigenerational relationship with Butler University that goes back nearly 70 years. Levinson earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Butler in 1975, and in 2006 he received an honorary doctorate. His father, Alan C. "Buzz" Levinson, received his Master of Science in Education from Butler in 1953, during which time he helped install and align the telescope at Holcomb Observatory. Buzz frequently brought young Frank along, helping kindle Frank's interest in science and optics.
Levinson's mother, Winifred B. Levinson, received her Bachelor of Arts in French from Butler in 1951, and his brother Carl A. Levinson received his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics in 1978.
"I have been so grateful for all the things that a Butler education has done for so many members of my family," Levinson said. "Over many years, my family has seen how valuable and recognized this education has been. Looking forward, I know it takes a big commitment to stay on the cutting edge of the sciences. This gift aims to help keep this commitment high for many years to come."
Levinson is an entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Finisar Corporation, a manufacturer of optical communication components and subsystems. He is currently the Managing Director of the early stage fund and incubator Small World Group, which engages in a mixture of venture capital, engineering, and philanthropy to help start companies or research efforts with a focus on "clean tech"—technology that helps improve the quality of life on earth.
He also is a partner in the San Mateo, California-based venture capital fund Phoenix Venture Partners, which invests in start-up teams developing advanced materials innovations for major industries such as photonics, health care, and sustainable products.
In 2007, Frank Levinson enabled Butler to establish a partnership with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), which affords Butler undergraduates opportunities to study in Panama with scientists who conduct long-term ecological research addressing nearly every aspect of tropical biodiversity from genetics, physiology, and ecology to the structure and function of ecosystems and the biosphere.
Levinson's 2007 gift also supported Butler's participation in the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy, or SARA, a telescope consortium that allows students to see the solar systems from various vantage points around the world, as well as the purchase of Butler's supercomputer, nicknamed "The Big Dawg."
The supercomputer—essentially two 7-foot by 3-foot racks of processing units that run hundreds of times faster than a conventional desktop computer—has enabled faculty and students to do advanced research, transform the teaching of math, computer science, and the sciences at Butler, and been a key selling point in the recruitment of the next generation of computer programmers.
"Frank has been a loyal and generous alumnus for many years, as well as a visionary who works to make our world better," Butler President James M. Danko said. "His financial support has made a transformational impact on the sciences at Butler and will continue to help us enhance Butler's commitment to developing critical thinkers who will go on to make contributions to Indianapolis, the region, and the world."
Media contact:
Marc Allan
Butler University alumnus Frank Levinson '75, a longtime Butler benefactor whose past gifts enabled Butler to upgrade its science programs and purchase its first supercomputer, is generously providing the University with a new $5 million gift to support the sciences.
PUBLISHED ON Jul 19 2019
Fiscal year 2019 was a banner year for philanthropy at Butler University, with 15,823 generous graduates and friends contributing $41.4 million, representing the second highest fundraising total in the past 10 years. The gifts will bolster academic programs, enhance student life initiatives, and support Butler Athletics, cementing Butler's status as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, a distinction made this year in U.S. News & World Report's Best College Rankings.
The new building for the Andre B. Lacy School of Business (LSB) was one of the fiscal year's landmark achievements. Twelve Founders Circle donor families each made $1 million gifts to lead the fundraising effort, which has totaled more than $21 million to support construction of the building. The atrium of the new building will be named in honor of these donors' visionary investment in Butler's future and the lives of future business students.
On June 7, the University marked another milestone as the Board of Trustees approved a $100 million renovation and expansion of Butler's sciences complex. With the help of generous lead donors, more than $27 million has already been raised toward the total $42 million fundraising goal. Butler will hold a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the project this fall, but work is beginning immediately.
In another major infrastructure project this year, Butler announced a second phase of renovations to Hinkle Fieldhouse estimated to cost $10.5 million. To date, $10.1 million of that total has been raised through generous philanthropic support. The renovations began in May and will include enhancements to the Efroymson Family Gym and the men's soccer locker room. The installation of an HVAC system will provide air conditioning for the main court, the concourses, and the Efroymson Family Gym.
Butler's most dedicated donors also were recognized during the fiscal year. In September, the University celebrated the launch of the inaugural Carillon Society, which honors individuals who have made cumulative gifts of $100,000. The celebration inducted 248 honorees into the Carillon Society—representing more than $73 million in philanthropic support that has impacted nearly every corner of the University. Additionally, eight new plaques were unveiled on Cornerstone Plaza, recognizing the generosity of those whose cumulative giving has reached $1 million or more.
"This level of generosity demonstrates the incredible loyalty of our alumni, faculty, staff, and community, and the commitment we share to advancing Butler's mission of providing the highest quality liberal arts education," says Butler President James Danko. "Philanthropic support helps us to more effectively advance integrated learning in business, science, innovation, and technology. We are grateful for the many partners who have placed their trust in Butler and invested in the lives of our students with their gifts."
Butler employees showed significant generosity this year, providing gifts totaling $1,042,196 from 599 faculty and staff donors, up from 424 faculty and staff donors in FY18 and 349 in FY17. This total indicates 59 percent of full-time Butler employees made a gift to the University in FY19 in a powerful demonstration of support for the institution's mission and vision.
Butler's annual Day of Giving marked its fourth year in record-setting fashion. The University raised $311,183—a 159 percent increase from its inaugural year in FY16. Of special note, this year's Day of Giving raised $21,899 for the Butler Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides gift assistance to students with short-term, unforeseen financial hardships that might impact their academic success at the University. The Fund was a new initiative in FY19 that has already provided assistance to 16 students thanks to donor support.
"Exciting things are happening at Butler, and we're grateful to the donors and community partners who have come alongside us this year with their support and enthusiasm," says Jonathan Purvis, Vice President for University Advancement. "Philanthropic partners are making a difference in the lives of our students every day by establishing scholarships, providing resources for our outstanding faculty, investing in state-of-the-art facilities, and supporting community partnerships that enrich student learning. Butler donors are absolutely integral to our students' success and the impact we make in the community."
$41.4 million raised in fiscal year 2019
BY By Peyton Thompson '20
PUBLISHED ON Jan 31 2018
The 16th annual Butler University Dance Marathon takes place on Saturday, February 3, from noon to midnight in the Health and Recreation Center. For 12 hours, participants will dance, play basketball and other games, and eat, eat, and eat some more—all for a good cause.
The student-run fundraiser supports Riley Hospital for Children, in honor of Sarah Michelle Cohen, an honorary Dawg who died August 13, 2009, before she could attend Butler.
At the end of the evening, the organizers reveal the amount raised. Last year, BUDM raised $402,440.01 for Riley Hospital for Children.
"The Butler University Dance Marathon organization has not set a goal for the end of the night reveal," Dodson says, "because no matter what the number is, at the end of the day it is giving hope to all the Riley kids of the past, present, and future."
We asked some of the organizers: What does BUDM mean to you?
Apparel Chair Bailee Dodson: "BUDM has been a huge impact in my life because it truly shows me what giving your whole heart look like. I have seen my committee members go above and beyond for a great cause and that truly keeps me going during the most stressful times. On 75k Day"—the day they try to raise $75,000—"I truly saw the magic of the Butler community, my family, and friends and I think that has been a huge impact on my life to see people I love go the extra mile FTK!"
Director of Dancer Relations Elaine Holmes: "BUDM is has helped me find a way to use my talents to further a cause about which I am passionate. Because of BUDM, I have found inspiration for my future in the healthcare field through our efforts for a world where all kids can join in the dancing."
Co-director of Entertainment Sarah Thuet: "BUDM has made such a difference in not only my time at Butler but also my life as a whole. This organization transcends any limitation I've ever seen stop other fundraising organization. It's such an inspiring, selfless and humble group of people who are just giving their all to help others. I truly am inspired and motivated by the BUDM committee every single day."
All students, faculty, and staff at Butler University are welcome to participate. There is a $50 dancer minimum to join in.
This year's Dance marathon will include a plethora of fun activities and food for all the participants to enjoy. Dodson says there will be an electronic bull, a bounce house obstacle course, a three-on-three basketball tournament, a face painter, and a rave to the end the night before the final reveal.
"There is something new every hour," she says.
Butler University Dance Marathon will take place February 3.
INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Dennis '71 and Nancy Lawton have made a generous commitment to the Athletics Capital Improvement Fund for the second phase of renovations to Hinkle Fieldhouse, moving Butler University closer to its $10.5 million fundraising goal for the project. To date, more than $10.1 million has been raised toward the effort. In recognition of the gift, the Strength and Conditioning Room in Hinkle Fieldhouse will be named for the family.
"The passionate generosity of Nancy and Denny has significantly and directly impacted the student-athletes in our men's basketball program," says Barry Collier, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "We greatly appreciate their many gifts to Butler Athletics and Butler Basketball."
The second phase of renovations are currently being completed and will be unveiled this fall. Thanks to overwhelming donor support for the original Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse, the first phase of renovations were completed in 2014. The second phase enhancements include a complete renovation of the Efroymson Family Gym, air conditioning for all public areas of the Fieldhouse, and extensive work to the men's soccer locker room.
The Lawtons have been longtime supporters of Butler Athletics and the Men's Basketball program in particular. In 2014, the couple established the Lawton Family Scholarship for Men's Basketball, which is awarded annually to a scholarship student-athlete. The family has also provided significant support to the team's travel fund, which helped to cover the costs of the team's 2017 foreign tour in Spain.
As longtime men's basketball season ticket holders, the Lawtons have extended their support of the program far beyond attendance at games and financial gifts. The Lawtons consistently reach out to members of the basketball coaching staff and their families, taking special care to make sure everyone feels included in the Butler community.
"Nancy and Denny have generously supported Butler and our program in many ways," says Men's Basketball Head Coach LaVall Jordan. "Their impact is undoubtedly felt by our student-athletes through major initiatives like foreign trips and team travel. They have also gone out of their way to embrace the families of our staff in many ways. Their relationship continues to mean so much to my family, and the families of the staff and players. They truly are Butler family."
The Lawtons have a long family history at Butler, beginning with Nancy's mother Doris who was a 1941 graduate. In her honor, the couple established the Doris Huesing Barrett and Dennis and Nancy H. Lawton Endowed Fund for Men's Basketball in 2010. The fund provides support for the team's area of greatest need as determined by the head coach.
"As a child, my parents, Homer and Doris Huesing, instilled in me the wonder and value of a Butler education," says Nancy Lawton. "The amazing Butler culture provided not only my parents, but my husband, Denny, our son Ben, and a very long list of other family members a stellar education. The friendships we have developed with alumni, staff, and their spouses have greatly enhanced our lives."
An influx of philanthropic support has aided Butler University's dramatic growth in recent years. Pursuant to the Butler 2020 Strategic Plan, the University and donor partners have invested in new campus facilities, academic programs, and co-curricular offerings. In the past five years, Butler has built the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, the Sunset Avenue parking garage including a streetscape beautification project and renovated Hinkle Fieldhouse. In addition, the University partnered with American Campus Communities to build the Fairview House and Irvington House residential communities. The Andre B. Lacy School of Business recently moved into its new 110,000-square-foot building, and fundraising is underway to complete a $100 million Science Complex expansion and renovation.
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 600 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 48 states and 35 countries. Ninety-five percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, student teaching, clinical rotation, research, or service learning by the time they graduate. Butler students have had significant success after graduation as demonstrated by the University's 98% placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review's annual "best colleges" guidebook.
Generous gift brings Butler closer to $10.5 million fundraising goal for Hinkle renovations
PUBLISHED ON Aug 14 2017
Return on investments in high-quality, early childhood education is significant and long lasting, PNC regional President says.
The Butler Lab School has received a three-year, $150,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to support the school's preschool program, improve the students' emotional skills through the practice of yoga, and increase the quality of early childhood education in Indiana through multiple professional development opportunities for the community at large.
The grant will address the needs of underserved children in a school where 73 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch. The Lab School now has 22 half-day students and nine full-day students. Of those 31 students, 22 are on scholarship.
"Because of PNC's financial involvement, these children's educational dreams are being realized," said Ena Shelley, Dean of Butler's College of Education, which operates the school in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Schools.
In addition, preschool students will be taught yoga, which has been shown to improve social-emotional skills. Yoga relieves stress, gives the students a chance to move purposefully, and teaches them how to calm down and focus.
Shelley said Assistant Professor Lori Desautels, a nationally recognized expert in the area of applied educational neuroscience, is researching effective strategies to help children take control of their behaviors and potentially change the direction of their learning and emotional well-being. Applied educational neuroscience, coupled with focused attention practices as a part of a yoga program, would be implemented to train teachers.
The third part of the grant will offer opportunities such as support for 20 educators to attend Indiana Partnership for Young Writers (IPYW) workshops, where topics such as Math, Reading, Writing, and Early Childhood will be addressed by the nation's most respected education experts.
"Extensive research shows the return on investments in high-quality, early childhood education is significant and long lasting, positively impacting our children, society and economy," said Connie Bond Stuart, PNC regional President for central and southern Indiana. "Through PNC Grow Up Great®, our signature cause in early childhood education, we contribute to the future of this region and help close learning readiness gaps faced by many children as they enter kindergarten. Our support provides area preschoolers and their families the resources to better prepare for success in school and life."
The holiday season has always been a special time of year for me and one rich with memories. As a young kid I could barely contain the feeling of excitement for what presents I might receive. The year I was old enough to stay up late and watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve was a much anticipated rite of passage. As I grew into young adulthood, I remember the feeling of trepidation the first time I brought a girlfriend home for Thanksgiving lunch. And, somewhere along the way, I slowly became aware of the special time with family that the holidays afford.
I'm married now with three kids, and the holidays have become a time of both nostalgia and of making new memories. I find myself simultaneously reflecting on the past with my parents and adult siblings and seeing the world anew through the eyes of my children. For everyone, I think the holidays serve as a wonderful nexus between what has been and the promise of what is yet to be.
"Through philanthropy, donors powerfully express gratitude for what they have received while investing in their highest hopes for what the future will be."
"Through philanthropy, donors powerfully express gratitude for what they have received while investing in their highest hopes for what the future will be."
Through that lens, it seems only natural that most of us also view the holiday season as a time of giving. This annual convergence of past and future perfectly encapsulates the two conditions necessary for generosity – gratitude and hope. Through philanthropy, donors powerfully express gratitude for what they have received while investing in their highest hopes for what the future will be.
As Vice President for University Advancement, it's a tremendous privilege to help donors express their feelings of gratitude and hope through giving to Butler. In my role, donors share with me stories of how their life was transformed thanks to their Butler experience. They also share their excitement for how Butler is preparing the next generation for the future opportunities and challenges that await them. And through giving, they put those feelings of gratitude and hope into action.
It's for this reason that I'm proud Butler has joined the Giving Tuesday movement which harnesses the power of social media and the generosity of people from around the world. Since 2012, millions of donors from more than 150 countries have banded together to make gifts on Giving Tuesday to affect change in causes that matter to them. For me and my family, the transformative impact Butler makes in the lives of our students and in our community is that cause. So, on this Giving Tuesday, I invite you to join my family in putting gratitude and hope into action through a gift to Butler University.
Through philanthropy, donors express gratitude for what they have while investing in their hopes for the future.
PUBLISHED ON Jun 29 2017
The generosity of more than 14,000 Butler University alumni and friends made fiscal year 2017 one of the University's best fundraising years on record—generating $35.6 million to enrich academic programming and student life at Butler.
Gifts and commitments included contributions from the estate of Winstan R. "Bud" Sellick '47 and his wife, Jacqueline (Blomberg) '44, which will be shared among Butler Athletics, the Lacy School of Business, and general University support; $5 million from alumnus Frank Levinson '75 for expansion and renovation of the University's science facilities; and $5 million from Old National Bank to establish the Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business.
"We are deeply grateful to our alumni and friends for supporting Butler's mission and vision," Butler President James M. Danko said. "The generosity of our donors has a direct impact on the quality of the student experience at Butler. It creates new opportunities for each student's intellectual and personal growth. It helps finance upgrades to academic, research, performance, and athletic spaces. It provides scholarships. Put simply, donor support changes lives and helps secure our University's future."
Highlights of the contributions to Butler during fiscal year 2017 included:
In addition, Butler University's second annual Day of Giving in February surpassed expectations, with faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and friends making 894 gifts totaling more than $140,000. Through Day of Giving participation, the University was also able to raise an additional $103,000 in matching challenge gifts.
"Our alumni continue to show their appreciation for the opportunities that Butler University has provided to them, and our friends are demonstrating their clear support for all that Butler does in the community," said Jaci Thiede, Vice President for University Advancement. "They know that every gift is appreciated and put to the best possible use."
Butler's enormously successful fundraising year comes following a record-setting fiscal year 2016, when the University received nearly $45.4 million in gifts and commitments. This included the largest single commitment from an individual or family in the University's history, $25 million, which was donated by Andre B. and Julia Lacy to name the Lacy School of Business.
Media contact:
Marc Allan
The generosity of more than 14,000 Butler University alumni and friends made fiscal year 2017 one of the University's best fundraising years on record.
Marc D. Allan
from Fall 2017
In May, Butler announced a $5 million financial commitment from Old National Bank to create the Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business, which will provide privately owned businesses with training, education, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help them succeed.
The Center, located in Butler's Andre B. Lacy School of Business, will place special emphasis on serving the unique needs of this core segment of the economy. The Center will advance the Lacy School of Business's commitment to experiential education by extending the definition of the Butler student to include the individuals at the businesses that they have the opportunity to work with.
"We are grateful not only for the tremendous financial contribution, but for the partnership with Old National Bank (ONB)," said Stephen Standifird, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. "ONB has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for supporting closely held businesses."
The Old National Bank Center for Closely Held Business will initially concentrate on two core areas: helping organizations understand how to manage transition strategies, a challenge that is unique to closely held businesses; and identifying stage-appropriate advisors who can help businesses grow in areas such as accounting, legal, risk, and insurance.
The Center's leadership team will design its initial programming. The team consists of Administrative Director Dennis Wimer; Academic Director and longtime Butler Business Professor Dick Fetter; and Dean Standifird. Much of the ongoing programming of the Center will be determined by client feedback and consultation with appropriate experts. If you want to learn more about how you or your business could be involved in this organization at Butler, connect with Wimer at email@example.com.
Wimer and colleague Jennifer Dewitt spent the summer meeting with members of the Indiana Business community as well as attending The Alliance Conference, an organization consisting of leaders of family and closely held business centers across North America. "The first step is to understand our customers' needs and this summer has helped us identify the critical topics that drive organizational growth and value," Wimer said. "We have started to build relationships with key partners that we know our members will be able to count on."
ONB Chief Credit Officer Steve McGlothlin '87 will chair the Center's Advisory Board. Lacy School of Business Senior Advisor Andre Lacy will serve on the board as well as Elaine Bedel MBA '79, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Bill Neale, Senior Partner Krieg Devault LLP; and JP Engelbrecht, CEO South Central Inc. Additional board members who bring a diverse perspective on today's critical business issues will be added.
"Old National is thrilled to partner with Butler University to help advance the success of privately owned businesses throughout our great state," Old National Chairman and CEO Bob Jones said. "As the largest bank headquartered in Indiana, Old National is deeply committed to ensuring that Hoosier businesses get the training, education, and other resources they need to grow and thrive."
by Marc D. Allan
Fall 2017
by Marc D. Allan from
Fall 2017
Butler University alumnus Frank Levinson '75, a longtime Butler benefactor whose past gifts enabled Butler to upgrade its science programs and purchase its first supercomputer, generously provided the University with a new $5 million gift to support the sciences.
Enrollment in the sciences at Butler has increased nearly 50 percent over the last decade.
"I have been so grateful for all the things that a Butler education has done for so many members of my family," Levinson said. "Over many years, my family has seen how valuable and recognized this education has been. Looking forward, I know it takes a big commitment to stay on the cutting edge of the sciences. This gift aims to help keep this commitment high for many years to come."
Levinson grew up in Indianapolis and he and his family have a deep, multigenerational relationship with Butler University that goes back nearly 70 years. Levinson earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Butler in 1975, and in 2006 he received an honorary doctorate. His father, Alan C. "Buzz" Levinson, received his Master of Science in Education from Butler in 1953, during which time he helped install and align the telescope at Holcomb Observatory. Buzz frequently brought young Frank along, helping kindle Frank's interest in science and optics.
PUBLISHED ON Apr 26 2016
Butler University's College of Business has been renamed the Andre B. Lacy School of Business, in recognition of a $25 million commitment from the Chairman of the Board of Indianapolis-based LDI, Ltd (Lacy Diversified Industries) and his wife, Julia, Butler President James M. Danko announced today. In addition, Lacy will serve as senior adviser to the School of Business.
The gift is Butler's largest ever from an individual or family.
"The Butler community is deeply grateful to Andre and Julia Lacy for this transformational investment," said Danko. "This partnership brings together recognized champions of business and education, and will further extend Butler's national reputation as an innovative, world-class institution."
"Butler has long been an excellent school and an anchor to the Indianapolis and Central Indiana community," Lacy said. "But in the last five years, under President Danko's leadership, I have seen Butler grow into a national player, especially when it comes to the University's focus on innovation, experiential learning, and outcomes."
In 2015, Butler was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the Midwest's most innovative school, and among the best in the nation for internships, study abroad, and undergraduate research. Just last week, Bloomberg BusinessWeek ranked Butler's School of Business No. 1 in the nation for internships, and the School's 2015 graduating class achieved a 99 percent placement rate.
"We hope this investment further establishes the Lacy School of Business—and Butler University overall—as the premier destination for students, faculty, employers, and community partners in Central Indiana and across the country," Lacy said.
Lacy To Serve As Senior Adviser
Lacy has worked with Butler for more than a decade, serving on the Butler Business Consulting Group Advisory Panel and endowing a student scholarship within the School of Business. As part of this new partnership, Lacy will serve as a direct resource to the Lacy School of Business and Butler University community.
Stephen Standifird, Dean of the Lacy School of Business, said that Lacy will be an extraordinary asset to the School as senior adviser. "To do what we do well, we must have a strong group of people in the business community who are willing to advise us on what's really happening—the dynamics of the marketplace, how we can increase connections with industry, and continue to be relevant," Standifird said. "I can't think of anybody better suited for that role than Andre Lacy. He is passionate about closely held business and developing the next generation of business leaders. We share these passions, which makes for a great partnership."
Lacy said he sees his new role at Butler as an opportunity to pass down what he's learned and what he knows.
"The adviser role," he said, "provides that opportunity to share, mentor, and help students see that prospering an entity is bigger than any one individual—and it gives back exponentially to the communities where they live. That's a desire we see in this generation—to be part of something bigger than themselves, and to be on the ground floor of establishing something that has meaning and value."
A Differentiated Experience
Two areas of particular focus for Lacy and Standifird will be helping the School build upon its signature experiential approach to teaching and learning, and expanding its focus on closely held businesses. In the School of Business, students create a business plan their first year, launch a company as sophomores, and complete at least two internships before graduation—a series of experiential requirements unmatched in the business school landscape.
Lacy sees these strengths as key to Butler's differentiation. "Butler's business program presents two main points of value proposition for the student that differentiate it from Kelley, Krannert, Harvard, and the like," he said. "The first is focusing on closely held businesses—meaning small businesses and family-owned businesses—which drive the nation's economy and make up 90 percent of Indiana's business sector. The second is giving students the real-world experience of working directly with local businesses, seeing first-hand the challenges they face, and learning the art and science of developing and selling solutions that have real value in the business market."
An Everlasting Alignment
Butler President Danko said Lacy's approach, which stresses leadership, character, and integrity, strongly aligns with The Butler Way.
"Andre Lacy has demonstrated through his business success, community leadership, and principled life a strong conviction to improving society and the well-being of others," he said. "The financial commitment from Andre and Julia is extraordinary, but of equal or even greater value will be the everlasting alignment of the Lacy name and Butler University."
Media contact:
Marc Allan
PUBLISHED ON Oct 07 2014
Author Michael Martone will make an endowed gift to Butler University in honor of his parents, Patricia '53 and Anthony Martone, to support undergraduate English majors as they travel to conduct research and publish work about the state of Indiana and its citizens.
"My main interest is not to have another contest or award, but instead encourage writing," Martone said. "Especially writing that is about place, since my own career has been about writing about Indianapolis and about Indiana, and my mother, who wrote a lot in her retirement in Fort Wayne, wrote specifically about her community and the state."
Only half-jokingly, he added, "If somebody wanted to write a proposal about going to Shapiro's downtown and then write about the experience, that would be great."
Martone, a novelist known for the book Fort Wayne is Seventh on Hitler's List and several fake biographies – including one about him – has taught writing at the University of Alabama since 1996. He also has taught at Iowa State, Harvard, and Syracuse universities. Martone has won two NEA fellowships, and his stories and essays have appeared and been cited in the Pushcart Prize, The Best American Stories and The Best American Essays anthologies.
He attended Butler for five semesters in the late 1970s and has several ties to the University as a writer. He and English Professor Susan Neville co-edited a book called Rules of Thumb: 71 Authors Reveal Their Fiction Writing Fixations, which came out in 2006. This year, he and English Department Instructor Bryan Furuness finished collaborating on a book called Winesburg, Indiana, about "a sad town populated by people who have desperate, writeable private lives."
The book, to be published next spring by IU Press, collects stories that originally appeared in Booth, Butler's online literary magazine.
Martone has always written about Indiana. He's currently working on The Collected Writings of Art Smith, the Bird Boy of Fort Wayne, a fake biography of an early aviation pioneer from Fort Wayne who's also the inventor of skywriting.
"Art Smith was real," Martone said, "and there's evidence that he invented skywriting – which is exciting that the first writing in the sky was done over my hometown by this hometown hero. But there's no documentation of that skywriting, so the book will be pictures that pretend to be actually taken of the skywriting, and the writing that I'll do will be sort of faux scholarly ideas about that. I'm interested in satire and parody and examining what we believe to be fake and what we believe to be real. "
Martone will return to Indiana on Oct. 24-25 for the Indiana Authors Awards and will officially give his gift then. He said he hopes the Patricia and Anthony Martone Endowed Gift Fund will attract contributions from his mother's Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters and alumni who worked on Manuscripts, the campus literary magazine.
The gift agreement with the University specifies that special attention be paid to students who write about Indianapolis, Indiana and the Midwest, and, if possible, preference should be given to students who are involved with Manuscripts.
Patricia Martone graduated from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1953 with a degree in English. While at Butler, she was a member of the varsity debate team and also participated in speech and theater. She also contributed to The Drift (yearbook) and The Collegian (newspaper). Martone said some of her fondest memories were acting in A Midsummer Night's Dream produced outdoors in Holcomb Gardens and debating the touring team from Oxford.
Anthony Martone did not attend Butler, but he was engaged with the University through his wife's and son's on-campus involvement.
Andrew Levy, Chair of Butler's English Department, said Martone's gift "celebrates both the creative potential of our students, and the undervalued cultural possibilities of Indiana and the Midwest. It's incredibly thoughtful, and pitch-perfect, and we're truly grateful for it."
The Butler Bowl became the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on September 16, thanks to a gift from the estate of Winstan R. "Bud" Sellick '47 and Jacqueline (Blomberg) '44.
Also as part of the $9.6 million gift, the Champions Room in the Sellick Bowl was renamed the Bud and Jackie Sellick Room, and the Registrar's Office is now the Jacqueline Blomberg Sellick Registrar's Suite.
The Sellicks had asked longtime friends Dan Yates and Bob Wildman to assist in the transfer of this gift to Butler. Wildman noted that the Sellicks "were special people with a special place in their hearts for Butler."
"During their long history with the school, they saw it grow and prosper, and I know they were quite happy and proud to be a part of its success," he said. "They would be extremely grateful to Butler for this recognition by the University of their generous gift."
The Sellicks were married for 69 years. A Marine Corps veteran, Bud served on Okinawa and Korea. His association with Butler University was long and deep. When Bud was born, his father was the Treasurer of Butler University in Irvington, as well as a Professor of Economics at the school. In 1939, when he came to Butler as a student, an aunt was Assistant Registrar and a second aunt was a Librarian.
Bud's pursuit of a degree was interrupted by World War II. He returned to Butler following the war, earned his degree in Economics, and married his college sweetheart, Jacqueline Blomberg. As a student, he was involved in the band, Kappa Kappa Psi band honorary, and Delta Tau Delta fraternity. In 1947, he began his successful career as an insurance agent in the Indianapolis area.
After fighting in Korea, he returned to Indianapolis where he served as President and Owner of Bud Sellick Insurance Agency and the Blessing-Sellick Insurance Agency for several decades until his retirement. He was also involved in a successful real estate business in the Indianapolis area with his wife and brother-in-law.
Bud died March 30, 2015. He was 93.
Jackie was a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. She attended Shortridge High School, then went on to become a graduate of Butler University. During her Butler days, she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, a member of the Debate Team, and a recipient of the Ovid Butler Award.
Her career included over 20 years on the Industrial Board. She also owned and operated commercial real estate for 40 years.
Jackie died October 20, 2012. She was 89.
Consistent donors to Butler for more than a third of a century, the Sellicks endowed three scholarships: The Winstan R. Sellick, Jacqueline Sellick, and Herman W. Blomberg Scholarship; the Sellick, Deming, and Schuler Scholarship; and the Winstan R. Sellick and Jacqueline B. Sellick Business Scholarship.
They also made gifts to the Butler Fund and several athletic funds, including the restoration of Hinkle Fieldhouse. In 2007, Bud and Jackie Sellick received the Ovid Butler Society Mortarboard Award. In 2014, Bud was honored when he received the Butler Medal. He also was a donor and strong supporter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.
Andre B. Lacy, the man for whom Butler's Lacy School of Business is named, was Chairman of the Board of Indianapolis-based LDI, Ltd (Lacy Diversified Industries) and a Senior Advisor to the Lacy School of Business.
Lacy, a graduate of Dennison University, started his career at LDI's founding enterprise, U.S. Corrugated Fibre-Box, where he worked his way through the corporate ranks. Following the sale of U.S. Corrugated, he was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the newly created Lacy Diversified Industries, the holding company that would become LDI.
He was elected CEO of LDI in 1983 and Chairman of the Board in 1991. He remained Chairman following his retirement from LDI in 2006.
A strong advocate of civic progress, especially economic development, agriculture, and education, Lacy was co-chair of the Cultural Trail fundraising committee and a co-creator of Conexus. In 2009, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Lacy chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission, a role in which he remained in until his death. As commission chair, he was a driving force behind the State Fair Coliseum restoration.
Lacy provided leadership for many boards, including the United Way of Central Indiana, Indianapolis 500 Festival, Indianapolis Public School Board, and Economic Club of Indianapolis. He served as an advisor for the Lacy School of Business at Butler University. He was also an alumnus of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL) and served as moderator of Class XV.
In addition to his civic contributions, Lacy was active on numerous corporate boards, including Hulman & Company, Herff Jones, Patterson Companies, Inc., Ethyl Corporation, National Bank of Indianapolis, and Indianapolis Power & Light Company. He is past chairman of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce and the chairman of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
Governors Roger Branigan, Robert Orr, and Mitch Daniels each recognized Lacy as a Sagamore of the Wabash.
In April 2016, Lacy and his wife, Julia, made a transformational gift to Butler University, donating $25 million. The University named the business school in his honor.
"Butler has long been an excellent school and an anchor to the Indianapolis and Central Indiana community," he said at the time. "But in the last five years, under President Danko's leadership, I have seen Butler grow into a national player, especially when it comes to the University's focus on innovation, experiential learning, and outcomes."
Lacy worked with Butler for more than a decade, serving on the Butler Business Consulting Group Advisory Panel and endowing a student scholarship within the School of Business. He saw his role at Butler as an opportunity to pass down what he had learned.
Working with Butler faculty and administration, Lacy helped the School of Business build upon its signature experiential approach to teaching and learning, and expand its focus on closely held businesses.
"Butler's business program presents two main points of value proposition for the student that differentiate it from Kelley, Krannert, Harvard, and the like," he said. "The first is focusing on closely held businesses—meaning small businesses and family-owned businesses—which drive the nation's economy and make up 90 percent of Indiana's business sector. The second is giving students the real-world experience of working directly with local businesses, seeing first-hand the challenges they face, and learning the art and science of developing and selling solutions that have real value in the business market."
On Thursday, November 30, 2017, Lacy, an avid motorcyclist, was killed in a single-rider accident while on a private motorcycle tour in southern Africa.
"Andre and Julia Lacy will be remembered in perpetuity for their transformational gift to name the Lacy School of Business," said Steve Standifird, Dean of the Lacy School of Business. "For those of us that had the good fortune of working with Andre as Senior Advisor for the school, he will be remembered as someone who cared deeply for the success of the school and of our students."
In April 2016, Lacy and his wife, Julia, made a transformational gift to Butler University, donating $25 million.
PUBLISHED ON Aug 19 2018
John Davies '49
from Spring 2019
In 1944 I was enrolled at Butler as a naïve 17 year old. The war with Japan was still in progress. Thus, most males 18 and over were in the military. As a consequence, the ratio of females to male students was about 5 to 1, which I viewed as the social opportunity of a lifetime. It was not, however, conducive to academic excellence. In short, I never missed a party or a dance, but I did cut a class or two.
It was no surprise when my faculty advisor explained that my only achievement during my first semester as expulsion. He did, however, agree to seek readmission on probation if I agreed to make a radical change of my pursuit of an education. The deal was accomplished.
I worked hard during the next semester and summer school before entering the U.S. Army. After 18 months of service, I was discharged and reenrolled at Butler. It quickly became apparent that Butler was the right school for me – a broad curriculum and a faculty of such quality as to assure a solid education from a variety of disciplines for students who wanted to learn – and yes, that included me. My attitude changed from one of relief if I received a C or a D to one of disappointment if I did not receive an A.
In short, after a rocky start, I became a serious married student. I worked hard and with help from a great Butler faculty, I graduated with honors in 1949.
The fun of university life is undiminished and unforgettable to this day. I have often wondered how life might have been different had I attended a university with a faculty less interested in students and individuals seeking a quality education.
The reason I have given to Butler University is to help other students to achieve the same quality education that I did.
To see John's handwritten letter, click here.
by John Davies '49
Spring 2019
by John Davies '49 from
Spring 2019