Donor impact applauded at Chancellor’s Guild Dinner

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo honored the donors who allow the campus to innovate and serve at the annual Chancellor's Guild dinner.

Chancellor Mark Canada said the event recognizes people who make IU Kokomo a home for students and a pillar for north central Indiana.

"We see the results of your generosity every day. Our campus life is more vibrant than ever," he said, noting that more than 61 percent of first-year, full-time students participated in at least one co-curricular activity, and at least 53 percent of students were engaged in activities.

"None of this happens without the foundation you provide," Canada said.

He also recognized members of Women of the Well House, the campus's philanthropic giving circle, and the Cougar Club, for donors who give specifically to athletic programs.

With a theme of Research and Service, Canada shared success stories of students like Sydney Duncan, a three-time NAIA champion in shot put who also presented her scholarly work at Regionals at the Rotunda; Jackson McCullough, whose research focused on enhancing drone security using game theory; and Natalie Hall, whose history research documented how Pentecostalism in Indianapolis helped shape desegregation.

Lina Rifai, associate professor of vertebrate biology, and students Elisabeth Pennington and Koby Goodwin shared their project tracking monarch butterfly movement using solar-powered transmitters, while Juliana Estrada talked about the impact of service projects, and how donor funds make them possible.

Crystal Jones, vice chancellor for university relations, said she has one of the best jobs on campus, because she gets to see donor-supported projects grow. One of those is the Cougar Cupboard, which started as a resource for students and is expanding into a full storefront operation.

"This transition allows us to serve our students with even greater care and dignity and is a direct result of the support we are celebrating tonight," she said.

Susan Szep was inducted into the Remarkable Legacy Society, which honors those who have given $75,000 or more to the IU Foundation to benefit any IU Kokomo fund.

Thirty-eight donors were honored as members of the Seiberling Society for giving more than $5,000 during the year. Each one received a pair of glasses from Kokomo Opalescent Glass.

Seiberling Society members honored, listed alphabetically, included:

Sita C. Amba-Rao, Ph.D.

Dr. Ray and Dr. Mary Bonhomme

Beth Brooke

Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP

Buckingham Foundation Inc.

Ron and Arlene Buell

Capitol Sports Center, Inc.

Robert and Deborah Christensen

City of Kokomo

Community Foundation Serving Howard, Clinton and Carroll Counties

Steve and Barb Conner

Duke Energy - Kokomo

Ernst & Young Foundation

Judy and Mike Golitko

Dave Gossman

Susie Grayson

Grow Wabash County

Bill and Nancy Hunt

Philip L. Kintzele, D.B.A.

Betty Lasbury

Kathleen Ligocki and Pete Rosenau

Meg and Adam Massey

National Audubon Foundation

NIPSCO

Scot and Lisa Ortman, Kokomo Grain Company Inc.

Julie Paris and Dan Grumdmann

Rose Paul

The Procter & Gamble Company

Security Federal Savings Bank

Angie and Brian Shockney

Jeff and Lisa Smeltzer

Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union

Paul Stanley

Susan Szep

Dr. Jack and Pam Tharp

TKL Foundation Inc.

Terry and Mary Unger

Phil and Melissa Williams

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.