The 50 years that have passed since my University of Idaho experience have shown me the value of my time there over and over again. I was able to acquire an education and a direction for my future life while expanding my horizons and gaining lifelong relationships. How does one repay the benefits provided by the University and the citizens of the state of Idaho? While pondering this question I was able to meet and discuss with staff of the University possible ways to pay back some of the benefits given to me many years ago.

Shortly after returning from my overseas service in the early 1970s, I invested in some property near Cascade. As fate would have it, I was not able to take advantage of the land, but my wife and I kept it as our own little piece of Idaho. After our discussions with the University I decided that by making it a gift I could repay my school for the benefits it gave me and at the same time honor two very special individuals—my own late father, Lawrence H. Baxter, and First Lieutenant Kay Kimura, USMC, a close friend and classmate from Nampa Senior High School who lost his life in Viet Nam. Both of these Idaho citizens contributed their hopes and efforts to the state and in their own ways made possible my University of Idaho experience. If my gift to the University can keep alive their memories and provide assistance to coming generations of students who seek their own University of Idaho experiences, I will have repaid some small portion of the U of I’s gift to me.

To learn more about making a gift of real estate, or making a gift in honor or memory of someone, contact Stephen Eschen, at (208) 596-6212 or stepheneschen@uidaho.edu.

Communications alumna Mindy Belt ’85 believes that a well-rounded education is the key to a successful career. She attributes her success to a number of factors, including internships, college scholarships and support from University of Idaho faculty and staff she received while on campus.

“Throughout my years at Idaho, the instructors and campus employees always made the students feel welcome, respected and cared about,” Mindy says. “They were accessible and willing to help the students meet their goals. I think there are instructors like that everywhere; but at the U of I, they were the norm, rather than the exception.”

Mindy’s college career would not have been complete if it weren’t for her Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters. Her involvement in U of I’s Greek system provided her with a campus community, but also options to explore a wide range of interests and creative pursuits that have served her well throughout her working years.

“My career took a very interesting path, from Public TV to Cable TV, to office management, while pursuing writing, layout and photography on the side,” Mindy says. “I essentially ‘fell’ into healthcare marketing when I moved to the Philadelphia area, and was fortunate to be able to grow and build on my post-graduate technical writing and design education.”

The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences provided Mindy with internship opportunities that led to her successful career in television, by providing her with an authentic working experience that developed her diverse set of skills. She also became a paid staff member with KUID TV.

“As communication students, we were able to work side-by-side with our classmates on live and post-produced TV shows, including Vandal sports events, theatre and dance productions,” she says. “That experience allowed us to ‘dip our toes’ in the real working world, and gain the kind of experience that made U of I graduates stand out in the job market.

Mindy has chosen give back to U of I because of the many opportunities, through scholarships and other programs, she earned in order to complete her degree and attain a successful career. Through a beneficiary designation on her retirement plan, she will contribute to financial aid for U of I women who need additional support in order to attend college.

“I am so fortunate to be in a position now where I could help others in some small way to live the ‘Idaho experience’ and gain a rich education in the process,” she says.

For Roy Bowman, 1963 was a good year. After spending five years working in a lumber camp and two years at Boise Junior College, Roy came to the University of Idaho to finish his education. He had a great run — joined Kappa Sigma fraternity, ran for ASUI vice president, sang and toured with the renowned Vandaleers and received the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. In ’63 he earned his degree in elementary education. He went on to teach school in California for the next 28 years, and was named Teacher of the Year while at a Sunnyvale school.

Roy was encouraged to attend U of I by two constituents: Chief Forester Gordon Greenway (B.S. forest products, ’38) and associate professor of education Herbert J. Vent. As Roy says, “Both indicated the U of I’s program would go far beyond a mere complex ‘rehash’ of junior college methods courses.” Roy feels unquestionably that was so.

In selecting a school, Roy says, “I basically had three choices: BSU, U of I and Stanford [where he earned a master’s degree]. After visiting all of them, the University of Idaho seemed like going back home. Easy decision.”

A frugal and savvy investor, Roy acquired rental properties over his working years, mostly in the Boise, Idaho, area — near his boyhood home of Emmett, Idaho. By the time he retired and returned to Emmett, most of these properties were paid off. Roy parlayed his holdings into ever better investments and ultimately started selling them. From the proceeds he created and funded the Roy A. Bowman Jr. Charitable Gift Annuity.

The charitable gift annuity gave Roy a sizable income tax deduction, plus it provides him a quarterly payment and lets him make a meaningful gift to his alma mater. Upon his passing, the annuity’s remainder will fund a scholarship endowment.

On Roy Bowman’s career path, helping young people succeed was more important than making lots of money.

“I think of my own experiences into the new world of professional adventure,” he says. “I did it — now I can help others do it.”

With an attitude of gratitude, the Christensens’ roots run deep with gold pride.

Bill ’76 and Vicki Christensen ’77 were not your typical University of Idaho students. They didn’t participate in many Vandal traditions; they weren’t members of the Greek system and they made it to only a handful of Vandal athletic events. Although their participation in traditional U of I student life may have been limited, their loyalty to their alma mater as alumni, which has inspired them to contribute to multiple areas at the university, is second to none.

Bill Christensen was a non-traditional student who, after being in the U.S. Army for three years, moved home to Utah to attend the University of Utah in 1972 to study computer science.

“I had no desire to form a career in the military,” Bill Christensen said. “I always had a love for computers. I was designing computers and electronic components at U of U, but I wanted to study more of the operating system and compiler design side of things.”

In the fall of 1972, Bill’s roommate introduced him to Vicki Verick while she was attending Brigham Young University. They hit it off right away and started dating.

After a year at BYU, Verick decided to find a place where she could participate in a more in-depth study of the outdoors. After doing some research, she discovered that U of I had the best forestry college in the area. So, in the spring of 1973, even though they were just dating, she convinced Christensen to move to Moscow with her so they could attend U of I together, starting with the fall 1973 semester. They married in 1975.

“U of I was a full-blown university, it had everything that U of U had, but U of I was much smaller and more intimate.” Bill Christensen said, “I felt like I was treated more like an individual person at U of I and not just a number, and I really liked that.”

As students, the Christensens mostly worked and went to school. Vicki Christensen started out with her focus on forest recreation, a fairly new program in the Forestry department. Bill Christensen started off at U of I part-time studying journalism and computer science and working part-time at both the data processing center and KUID, where he developed a passion for broadcasting.

“Once I started getting into the higher-level communications classes, I gave up working in the data processing center and really focused on my studies and work at the TV station,” he said. At that point, he became a full-time student. “I had some great mentors at KUID, including Pete Haggart, who headed up the Radio-TV department and Ken Segota at KUID. That’s why we chose to include JAMM (the School of Journalism and Mass Media) in our recent bequest gift.”

When the Christensens weren’t working or going to class, they enjoyed spending time in the outdoors and taking trips. “We are passionate about the outdoors. That’s one of the reasons we also included the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) in our bequest,” Bill Christensen said.

“I homed in on MOSS as an area to support because I saw it being developed in its early stages after I left the university,” Vicki Christensen said. “It was the type of program I was looking for when I was a student at U of I, and I jumped on the opportunity to support MOSS for students who are looking for the same type of outdoor education I was.”

While studying forest recreation, which at that time focused on developing programs at visitor centers and/or exhibits in national parks, Vicki Christensen realized it wasn’t quite what she was looking for.

“I had searched for so long for my degree and had switched majors so many times that I settled on a final switch to education with a science emphasis because it was the only way I could finish school and start working right away,” she said.

Through some substitute teaching, she realized the teaching profession was not a good fit for her. Based on a recommendation from a friend, she accepted a clerical position at a hospital and worked there until she was severely injured in a car accident. “After recuperating from the accident, I did not go back to work, but I’ve still used my degree in so many ways throughout my life: in volunteer positions, helping out at my children’s schools and raising my kids. An education degree goes a long way in this world.”

Including the Vandal Marching Band in their bequest, although it may seem odd at first glance, actually represents an extension of the Christensens’ participation in their child’s education. Their connection to the Sound of Idaho began when their son Evan participated in band in elementary through high school and eventually in college at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

“We were very involved as band parents,” Vicki Christensen said. “We also love music and we loved the experience. We saw what it did for the students. The Vandal Marching Band has a great spirit. We see the band featured all over YouTube, and on the U of I website and we wanted to support them in that.”

Although the couple currently resides in Louisville, Tennessee, Bill Christensen serves as advisory board member for the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and they visit the Moscow campus annually for board meetings. They were unable to visit the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, but hope to attend advisory board meetings back at the U of I campus in the future.

“I value the education I received at U of I,” Vicki Christensen said. “I had so many great mentors there, most of whom I still look up to and search for updates about online, like my education professor and advisor Terry Armstrong, and chemistry professor Malcolm Renfrew.”

“We contributed to the construction of the Terry Armstrong Classroom for Science Education,” Bill Christensen said. “It was really great to visit in the summer of 2019 and see the classroom, knowing that we helped make it possible.”

“We also have one of the piggy banks for the Terry Armstrong Found Money Fund,” Vicki Christensen said. “Only something so simple and so great could come from his mind.”

During their summer visit to campus, the couple learned about the financial gap many students face, as well as how the university is addressing that gap through the Vandal Promise need-based scholarship program.

“Studies have been done and students graduating from high school who can’t afford to attend a university are usually only short by around $5,000. So, this scholarship helps bridge that gap and we feel fortunate to be able to contribute to that,” Bill Christensen said.

“I know the university is trying hard to get more students to consider a college education in Idaho,” Vicki Christensen said. “The Vandal Promise Scholarship demonstrates U of I’s caring heart and if this financial aid is the difference between a student attending U of I and not attending U of I, we want to do all we can to make their decision to attend an easier one.”

Bob Costi ’73 never takes a vacation from recruiting future Vandals. In fact, Costi recruits while on vacation. Whether he’s touring vineyards in Spain or driving along the Oregon coastline, he always takes the time to stop at high schools and businesses to encourage students to visit the University of Idaho campus.

A Ph.D. recipient, Costi has “been in love with the U of I since high school.” During a time when few colleges offered international business degrees, the faculty went out of its way to provide a unique doctoral international business program for him that blended history, political science and business courses.

“U of I is like a utopia,” he said. “Other schools I visited were cold and unfriendly, but U of I was welcoming and beautiful.”

Now a retired director of business administration and international business professor from Eastern Oregon University and a former president of Oregon Coast Community College, Costi joined colleagues Brian Hill and Karleen Mays as U of I recruiting volunteers in his hometown of Portland, Ore. The three of them divided the Portland region into three areas and identified high schools and community colleges to visit. For about five years it was an active, organized student recruiting system primarily developed for volunteers. The system generated a tremendous amount of student interest.

“The kids from the bigger city don’t know much about the University of Idaho,” he said. “When I show them photos of our beautiful campus and tell them about our great colleges and programs, their faces light up.”

With a beach home in Rockaway Beach, Ore., Costi and his wife, Betsy, are regular coastal visitors.

“Many of the students whom I meet live in small rural communities,” he said. “When we visit the coast, I like to schedule appointments with nearby high schools and community colleges.”

After telling students about the rural program opportunities, land management and animal science programs, these students become very interested. With few universities visiting them, they “were all ears” when Costi spoke.

Costi’s friends call him the “bridge recruiter” because, as president of Oregon Coast Community College, he sometimes recruited homeless students camped under bridges in Oregon coastal communities.

In starting a new community college in Lincoln County, Ore., Costi said it was critical he identify potential students. Two unique groups he became aware of were high school dropouts and runaways. They would oftentimes congregate under highway bridges.

Costi said just taking the time to speak with these young people and show them that higher education is possible was enough to turn their lives around. As enrollment grew, these college offerings became some of the institution’s mainstays.

As a U of I volunteer recruiter, he applied that same determination to encouraged students to make a trip to Moscow. Once here, he said, he knew many of them would be “sold on it” like he was.

“If you just talk to these kids, they will listen,” he said. “I love hearing their stories and sharing mine. I show them that U of I offers more than just green grass; it creates this indescribable passion to pursue an education and better your life.”

Today, the prospective student interest in the Portland metropolitan area has increased substantially, requiring greater exposure for U of I. Now, in addition to Bob and the other volunteers, full-time Vandal recruiters visit the high schools and community colleges.

In addition to his volunteer work and regular gifts to U of I, the Costis’ will provides for the creation of the Robert and Betsy Costi Scholarship Endowment to attract students from Oregon and Washington to attend Idaho’s oldest public university.

“The University of Idaho still excites me today as much as it did in the late 1960s,” Costi said. “I am grateful to the university for opening doors for me and am blessed to give back. Higher education is extraordinary, and no one should take it for granted.”

Supporting University of Idaho students, faculty, programs and facilities through private gifts is a solid investment in the investor’s philanthropic efforts, as well as the futures of those impacted, say alumni Matt and Lori Espe.

In addition to their annual gifts to their named faculty fellowship in the College of Business and Economics, the New Town Square, Penn. couple has included the University in their estate plan.

One of several reasons the alumni couple supports the U of I, and encourages others to do so, is to help students experience the transformative academic life the University offers.

“We donate to the College of Business and Economics, (CBE) because I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for my experiences at CBE,” Matt said. “Years before I got there, people made investments from which I benefited. So as alums, it’s only right for us to make a similar investment in the future and to create opportunities for the young men and women coming after us.”

“Higher education is such a transformative time in one’s life-it’s when a child goes from being a child to being an adult when you are maturing and learning responsibilities. It’s very, very important that everyone has a good opportunity to have this experience.”

Matt Espe, ’80, graduated from the CBE with a degree in marketing. In July 2010, he was appointed president and CEO of Armstrong World Industries, a leader in interior and flooring products. Previously, Matt held leadership positions for General Electric for 22 years and has lived all over the world with his wife, the former Lori Limbaugh, ’81, a CBE accounting alumna, and their four children.

“I credit the University of Idaho with everything I am today. I was a late bloomer and whatever development occurred for me, occurred for me at Idaho. I learned the value of teamwork, trust and accountability. It was a defining period in my life, and I would not be where I am today without my experience at the University of Idaho-which is why I give my time and resources to the school.

Lori is a member of the board of directors of the University of Idaho Foundation, Inc., where she serves on the finance committee.

A native of Fruitland, Idaho, Lori currently serves as Board Chair for Summer Search Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization helping low-income youth finish high school and college.

She says it concerns her that the percentage of Idaho high school students who continue toward higher education is relatively low.

“I’m hoping that the number of students attending college in Idaho will go up – that we, and others, through our support, can give that opportunity to more high school kids in Idaho, and they can transform their lives,” Lori said.

It was October 1976 when Jim and Dawn Fazio made their first gift of $25 to the University of Idaho. Jim was a relatively new assistant professor in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) at the University of Idaho. Dawn was pursuing a teaching certificate to complement her Master’s degree and interest in environmental education. They had just purchased a home, were excited to explore and take advantage of the outdoor opportunities in the northwest, and recognized that Moscow was a great place to raise kids.

Now, almost 41 years (and 35 years of cumulative giving) later, Jim and Dawn continue their loyal support of the U of I, Vandal students, and Idaho education. Jim is now a professor emeritus in the College of Natural Resources and freelance writer for Arbor Day Foundation. Dawn is a local business owner and long-time chair of the Moscow school district’s Board of Trustees. Why do they give? “A person ought to be supportive of the institution that supported him and so many students over the years. Education is the foundation of a strong nation. A good education provides many good things,” Jim says. “But it’s also important to get a good education while keeping borrowing at an absolute minimum.” This sentiment motivates them to continue to champion a wide variety of university initiatives that support the student experience and defray cost—from the Douglas L. Gilbert Scholarship that supports conservation communication, to the Library Dean’s Excellence Renovation Fund that resulted in a group study room dedication in their name. They have also made an additional gift in their will to the Gilbert Scholarship, which makes them members of the Heritage Society.

Lynn Baird, dean of U of I libraries, states, “The Library deeply appreciates Jim and Dawn Fazio for their gift to our students, which greatly improved one of our popular group study rooms. This gift is just one example of the many ways the Fazios give back to their community. They model grateful citizenship in many ways and we can all learn from their leadership.” Jim has always felt a connection to the U of I library, a critical hub for academic and professional growth, throughout his 35-year tenure as faculty. “Before the days of internet, the library never let me down. As I wrote three books, hundreds of articles, and sent countless students there for their own research, the library staff was always so helpful.”

Jim and Dawn are guided by and taught their own children the importance of integrity. It translates into their passion and commitment for education and the environment. “I have had the opportunity to know Jim and Dawn Fazio for over 40 years,” says William (Bill) McLaughlin, professor emeritus and retired dean of CNR. Bill and Jim were graduate school peers at Colorado State University then colleagues at University of Idaho. “They are two of the most dedicated individuals to education and nature conservation I have had the privilege to know. Dawn has kept a focus on promoting quality primary and secondary education. Jim has proven himself in every aspect of higher education. He created a world-recognized program in Resource Recreation Management. Under his innovative leadership, the program blended the history and philosophy of conservation with the practical capacities of resource management. Jim and Dawn offer all of us a model of how to bridge the “town and gown” divide. As a couple, they operate several successful small businesses, and remain committed to making the university and our community a better place. In life, there are those special people who are constantly making a difference. Jim and Dawn do this in their quiet and unassuming way, which always involves thinking about the needs of others.”

Through their years of community service, work, travel, and family, Jim and Dawn always made the conscious choice of supporting the University of Idaho. Jim says, “It is a school that is small enough for faculty and staff to get to know the students, but large enough to have important amenities. It is a strong blend of small and large.”

“Jim and Dawn have contributed to bettering the lives of so many students and faculty in their 43-year association with the U of I,” says Nick Sanyal, colleague and professor in CNR. The University of Idaho is proud to honor their dedication and 35 years of cumulative giving through the Loyal Donor Program.

Vandal alumni Rich ’84 and Sharon “Sheri” ’83 Fedorchak have decided to leave a gift in their estate to the University of Idaho, directed to the College of Natural Resources (CNR). Their donations will benefit the Taylor Wilderness Research Station and the McCall Field Campus, which includes the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS). They plan to do this through scholarships and other means, as both have many lasting memories of CNR and the university itself.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Rich came from a large family and was the youngest of six children. He attended the University of Massachusetts before coming to Idaho, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Wildland Recreation Management.

“The professors were innovative, energized and committed to making their students’ college experience life changing,” he said.

After graduation, Rich used his degree to land a career with the National Park Service working in Interpretation/Education, Law Enforcement, Wildland Fire and Employee Development. However, Rich didn’t just earn his degree at U of I; it’s also where he met his future wife, Sheri.

Sheri grew up in Indiana. After completing her undergraduate degree from Purdue University, she moved to Idaho to work on her master’s degree in Wildland Recreation Management.

“The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences (now CNR) was my home away from home that allowed me to seek and obtain the rewarding career I wanted with the National Park Service,” she said. But she also has many fond memories of Moscow, such as living with the Olson family, as “their historic home represented a place of love and warmth to me.”

When asked if a certain professor inspired them, the simple answer was yes. Rich said Wildland Recreation Management Professor Emeritus Sam Ham “lifted a veil for me,” while Sheri thanked Wildland Recreation Management Emeritus James Fazio, who “continues to inspire me, even today.”

James Fazio was Sheri’s major professor and hired her after graduation to work with him in the Dean’s Office in Continuing Education. Later, Sheri joined Rich to work with the National Park Service in Interpretation, Wildlife Management and Interdisciplinary Planning. Together, the Fedorchaks worked in nine national parks for over 35 years, ending up in Colorado at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rich and Sheri envision an even brighter future for the university with the support of their fellow alumni. “We really hope others will make similar commitments that will allow U of I to continue to stretch, innovate and make a lifelong, positive impact on its students, just as it did for us.”

Eric Godshall was a senior in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences (now the College of Natural Resources, or CNR) when he died as the result of a traffic accident near Orofino, Idaho in 1985. His parents, Frederic Godshall, who passed away in 2016, and Janet Godshall, established the Eric C. Godshall Memorial Scholarship to provide support to passionate forestry students.

“I’m not sure which one of us came up with the idea,” Janet Godshall said. “We talked about setting up this scholarship soon after Eric passed away.”

According to his mother, Eric Godshall lived his life to the fullest and longed for a career working in the outdoors — a passion matched only by his affinity for the University of Idaho.

“I think he was so happy being there,” she said. “He drove us around the campus once. U of I was a place he could get the education he wanted. It prepared him for what he wanted to do.”

In the scholarship criteria, the Godshalls stipulated that students receiving the scholarship should reflect a zest for living life to its fullest, as opposed to simply seeking academic achievement.

“Both Fred and I hoped that whoever receives the scholarship achieves the highest that they can achieve in the field of forestry,” Godshall said. “We wanted to help out many passionate forestry students for years to come.”

Since 1985, the Eric C. Godshall Memorial Scholarship has supported 36 forestry students. In 2017, Godshall decided to enhance the scholarship bearing her son’s name by including it in her will. The inclusion of the Godshall estate gift could substantially increase the scholarship’s endowment, resulting in more funds being available to award to more CNR students who are passionate about forestry.

“This scholarship has allowed me to be able to afford higher education in forestry,” said senior and current scholarship recipient Evan Wasmer. “Without scholarships from generous donors like the Godshalls, I would be struggling to put myself through school and would have to work a few jobs, ultimately taking away my focus from my studies.”

Wasmer expressed excitement for the 2020-2021 school year because one course in particular aligns perfectly with his career goals.

“I’m looking forward to my upcoming team project, working with renewable materials for my product development course,” Wasmer said. “Someday I hope to own my own renewable materials company.”

“Eric’s story is compelling because of his love of forests,” said CNR Dean Dennis Becker. “I’m humbled that the Godshalls have invested in our students’ training to be tomorrow’s forestry leaders. Eric would have been among those leaders. We’re proud to build on his legacy by helping students fulfill their career aspirations.”

“I think we picked the top forestry school in the country,” Godshall said. “We were very happy with that. I don’t know how Eric found out about U of I since we were living in Texas at the time, but he was so excited about it.”

For Eric Wolbrecht, society’s toughest medical challenges will not be solved by students and faculty alone – solutions require the talents and commitment of alumni, medical professionals and entire communities working together.

“That is the environment we have at the University of Idaho; people work together for a common goal to achieve more than we can achieve individually,” he said. “A big part of that collaborative effort is the U of I alumni who see value in the work being done and want to work toward the same achievements.”

Wolbrecht was recently named the U of I Dean and Cindy Haagenson Endowed Professor. The endowment, created by longtime university supporters and alumni Dean ’65 and Cindy ’72, ’82, ’87 Haagenson, supports faculty impact on student success and helps future students set a course for meaningful engineering careers.

“Dean and Cindy Haagenson are proud Vandals who have a long history of giving to the university and their communities,” Wolbrecht said. “Their gift continues this legacy of collaboration, providing a consistent source of financial resources to recruit and develop undergraduate and graduate students and hire excellent faculty.”

The Haagensons have had a long-lasting impact in northern Idaho, where they were both born and raised in Bonners Ferry. Cindy’s 35-year career in special education in Coeur d’Alene and Dean’s entrepreneurial construction experience on large projects like the Kootenai Cancer Center in Coeur d’Alene, the couple saw the value and real-life applicability of Wolbrecht’s Assistive Robotics Lab on the U of I Moscow campus.

The lab, co-facilitated by Wolbrecht and Mechanical Engineering Professor Joel Perry, gives students the opportunity to explore programming and machining skills as they develop and test complex robotic devices used to improve therapies and rehabilitative treatments for stroke survivors.

“The field of rehabilitation robotics has been around for several decades now,” Wolbrecht said. “There’s been a lot of great work done, but there’s also a lot more work that needs to be done to provide the best form of care that we can to people. This is why this endowment is so important. Dean and Cindy Haagenson are proud Vandals who have a long history of giving to the university and their communities. Their gift continues this legacy of collaboration, providing a consistent source of financial resources to recruit and develop undergraduate and graduate students and hire excellent faculty.”

The Haagensons also have left a gift in their will to increase the size and impact of the Haagenson Professorship endowment.

The endowed professorship provides a stable and permanent revenue source for research conducted in the lab. It allows U of I to hire and retain top faculty and research assistants, Wolbrecht said, while at the same time providing the university the opportunity to align itself with industry leaders and top medical staff.

Devices developed in the Assistive Robotics Lab are designed to analyze a patient’s limb movements, identify precise areas of limited mobility, gather data and help build better rehabilitation treatments.

Three stroke patients at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Spokane are currently testing a device focused on evaluating upper arm mobility.

“An endowment of this kind is a really powerful recruiting tool to continue our development of state-of-the-art research and to enable collaborations with other researchers in the state and across the country,” Wolbrecht said. “The University of Idaho can really elevate its reputation and the quality of its research.”

Many factors can influence a college student’s career path. Whether it’s a special professor or an academic course or degree, we all have touch points that map our path.

One significant touch point on the career path for Brian Hill ’65 was the undergraduate research he performed as a student in the University of Idaho’s College of Science under the mentorship of Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Jean’ne Shreeve. Shreeve has designed rocket fuels, experimented with most reactive element on Earth and taught hundreds of students during her 58 years with the University of Idaho Department of Chemistry.

“For my undergraduate research thesis project, I combined known compounds with unknown compounds to form new compounds,” Hill said. “These new compounds had the potential to be used in rocket fuels and other high energy needs. Some of this work was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research grant, and it took several years to complete. By the time I had finished the project, I had the confidence to continue on to graduate school.”

After receiving his Ph.D. at Montana State University, Hill went on to work for 3M Company in its Central Research Laboratory Inorganic and Physics Group.

“Because I wanted to do new and interesting things, I spent the next 20 or so years working on and managing new product development and product commercialization,” he said. In his last role with 3M, Hill had the technical responsibly for Scotch® Tape and Post-it® products, as well as new product development for the commercial office market.

Hill’s experience with U of I undergraduate research not only enabled him to earn a Ph.D. that prepared him for his desired career, but it also influenced the way he gives back.

“As I began to realize how important undergraduate research experience was to the success my wife Gayle and I have had,” Hill said, “we decided that we would start a giving program to support undergraduate research.”

The result was the Brian and Gayle Hill Undergraduate Research Fellowship, which provides financial assistance to students in the College of Science to support their research projects.

“Gayle and I have increased our investment, which has expanded the fellowship from four to eight students,” Hill said. Hill Fellows receive support for 18 months and must choose a professor to work with. Every spring, Hill Fellows present their research findings to the Hills and the university community. “It’s the highlight of our year. Their enthusiasm and plans for further education is inspiring,” Hill said.

The Hills are also active participants in the U of I alumni community. Brian helped establish an active alumni chapter in Portland, Ore. He also started an alumni group in Minnesota, which led to his role on the U of I Alumni Association board of directors as vice president in 2003 and president from 2004 to 2005, where he worked on programs specific to student recruiting.

Gayle studied zoology at U of I for three years before completing her bachelor’s degree at Montana State University. Utilizing her undergraduate research experience and after she had completed her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a laboratory assistant at Montana State University while Brian attended graduate school.

Given their affinity for U of I, it made sense to the Hills to make a gift to the university in their wills, also. By giving back in this way, they will continue to provide financial support to students engaging in undergraduate research long after they are gone.

“This is our way to continue supporting a very important experience,” Hill said. “It’s my wish that all U of I students will have the option to perform undergraduate research.”

As it did for the Hills, undergraduate research can provide touch points that influence a student’s path to success — whether that’s graduate school or entering the workforce.

“We believe that the knowledge one learns in class is necessary to do research, but that having the confidence and thrill to apply the knowledge to new situations can only be learned by doing research,” Hill said. “Gayle and I support undergraduate research to give students the opportunity to try new things and to be successful in those endeavors.”

Jane Holman was raised on a remote ranch near Dixie, Idaho, now part of the Frank Church Wilderness Area. As a child, going to see the doctor involved a long car ride on dirt roads.
“Grangeville was the closest place with resident doctors and that was 80 miles away on a very narrow, unpaved road,” she said. “It took us four hours to get there, so we just didn’t go very often.”

Holman understands the importance of physicians in Idaho’s rural and frontier communities. Today, thanks to her generosity, numerous WWAMI medical students at the University of Idaho (Idaho WWAMI) will be able to pursue their dreams of becoming a physician without incurring mountains of student loan debt. The Jane Holman WWAMI Idaho Scholarship Endowment is the largest bequest for medical student scholarships in the program’s history. The amount of the endowment is undisclosed, but Holman’s investment will impact countless medical students for generations to come.

“Idaho is at the bottom of the list for having enough doctors – literally ranked the state with the least doctors per capita – but we rank at the top as one of the fastest-growing states,” Holman said. “That’s a problem. I felt compelled to support our state’s publicly-funded medical education program (WWAMI) to keep training physicians here at home.”

The WWAMI Medical Education Program is a regional partnership between the top-ranked University of Washington School of Medicine and five states: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).
Well-versed on Idaho’s critical need for more physicians, Holman is also familiar with the role student aid plays in supporting students; she worked in the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. for 29 years.

“My career involved working directly with student financial aid, which I found very rewarding and as a result, establishing a scholarship fund for students in my home state seemed perfect,” she said. “Then I learned about the need for more physicians here and directed my contributions to students in the Idaho WWAMI medical school.”

Holman, who has been living in Moscow since retiring, supports higher education and medical training in more ways than one. Beginning this spring, she will guest lecture for Idaho WWAMI students in the blood and cancer block of classes. Holman has been living with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma since 2008 and is also a breast cancer survivor.

“Jane is amazing. We are so lucky to consider her as part of the WWAMI-ly,” Jeff Seegmiller, WWAMI director and associate dean at the University of Idaho. “Our students will benefit from her intelligence and resilience today and from her generosity in the future.”
Holman’s lifelong commitment to education, the Gem State, and drive to help support Idaho WWAMI students attend medical school establishes her as a true trailblazer.

No one experiences the joy of giving back to her alma mater quite like Joy Irving ’64. A native of Moscow, Idaho, and a first generation college student, Joy received much love and support from her parents. They encouraged her to attend the University of Idaho and earn a bachelor’s degree in home economics, what is now called family and consumer sciences. She is now passing on that support by donating to U of I scholarships to aid students on their journey through higher education.

“While attending U of I, I learned how to plan my time and how to organize my days,” Joy says. “The lessons I learned in class taught me to organize a kitchen and prepare employees—I can’t tell you how many times that knowledge helped me down the road.”

Joy and her late husband George started giving back to U of I because George felt strongly about supporting students in chemical engineering. He wanted to help others by providing them scholarship support, as he too was once a chemical engineering student on scholarship.

“The education that my husband earned at the University of Idaho enabled him to have a very successful career,” she says. “I want to help other young people receive an education that will continue to launch successful careers.”

Joy has committed to an additional $20,000 to cover the funding for graduate students in chemical engineering for 2016. Beyond the gifts Joy makes each year, she has provided for a gift in her will to continue her support for graduate and undergraduate scholarships in chemical engineering, graduate scholarships in food and nutrition, and internships in U of I Extension. In this way, Joy will continue to help U of I students forever while maintaining her financial security now.

“It is becoming ever more important for U of I alumni to assist in scholarship aid, and for the university to encourage students to apply for grants that can help provide the kind of quality education my husband and I received here.”

Leave Your Lasting Legacy at U of I

Follow in Joy’s footsteps and support future students by remembering U of I in your will. Contact Sharon Morgan at giftplanning@uidaho.edu or (866) 671-7041 today to learn more.

While attending the University of Idaho and pursuing bachelor’s degrees in psychology and anthropology, E. Whitney “Whit” Johnson ’80 was transformed by the volunteer work he did as a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity.

“I love doing volunteer work,” Johnson said. “My fraternity brothers and I used to go down to the old folks home to entertain the residents with skits like ‘Who’s on First.’ I also volunteered at the suicide hotline twice a week for two years. That really sparked my passion for serving.”

The Idaho native’s involvement with U of I as an alumnus started with attending U of I alumni events. Over the years, Johnson started giving back what he could, when he could, of his time, talent and treasure. In 2005, the longtime Arizona banker stepped up to organize a U of I golf tournament near his home.

“The Phoenix golf tournament was a huge success,” Johnson said. “We had 84 Vandals who attended that first year. The director of the U of I Alumni Association at that time said it was the best alumni event in several years. 2019 marks the 13th annual golf tournament, but after that first year, that’s when I started dedicating more time to the university.”

A few years later, Johnson was invited to apply to the alumni association’s board of directors. He eventually became president of the 120-year-old nonprofit organization’s board and now serves in an advisory capacity as the board’s past president.

“My term will end in May of 2019,” he said. “But of course I will continue to do stuff for Idaho whenever I can.”

As a volunteer, past board president, a lifetime member of the FIJI fraternity and longtime donor, it made perfect sense to Johnson to include a gift to his alma mater in his will. Leaving a gift of this kind to the university qualifies donors to be a part of the U of I Heritage Society, which recognizes alumni and friends who make a future commitment through planned gifts.

For Johnson, the best part about volunteering with the alumni association was the strong relationships he formed with the many Vandals he’s worked with.

“It reconfirmed my belief that U of I produces the greatest people in the world,” he said. “We support the university no matter what. And in that, we will be successful. Go Vandals!”

At long last, she’s made good on a promise to herself to give back to the program in a grand way, while also recognizing the influential leaders who made her childhood experience with 4-H in Nez Perce County so memorable — Marcia Studebaker Ney, of Pocatello, and the late J. Jay Ney.

The Suzanne Groff Lierz and Rick Lierz Nez Perce County 4-H Excellence Endowment, established with a $325,000 gift from the Lierz family, will provide annual disbursements benefiting Nez Perce County’s 4-H youth. The couple has also established a trust that will grow over time, providing additional funding to the county’s 4-H program. The endowment paperwork explains the impetus for the gifts was to honor the Neys, whose guidance helped Suzanne Lierz grow in confidence and aptitude.

“So much of my success in life and as a person developed early through the mentorship Jay and Marcia modeled,” Suzanne Lierz wrote. “They saw my potential and challenged me to do hard things like public speaking, club leadership, following through on my commitments, traveling to National Congress and Citizenship Washington Focus and serving as a state officer in the Idaho 4-H State Teen Association.”

Suzanne Lierz was about 10 years old when the Neys moved to Lewiston, becoming acquainted with her family through their church. Jay Ney was the new UI Extension, Nez Perce County educator and he recruited his wife to start a 4-H club, emphasizing public speaking, cooking and crafts. Suzanne Lierz was among the first youths to join the club.

“What I think was so great for me, I was the oldest of five children and I had 4-H. That was my thing — something I could be good at,” Suzanne Lierz said. “I attribute so much of who I am to the early challenges of 4-H, learning life skills along the way.”

She still enjoys quilting, sewing and baking — all skills she learned through 4-H. The greatest benefit Suzanne Lierz derived from her time in 4-H however, was gaining the confidence to speak before audiences.

Suzanne Lierz recalled being terrified one Saturday morning when Jay Ney took her and a couple of other 4-H youth to a demonstration competition in Kendrick. She had to give a presentation on cake decorating, which was a topic she knew virtually nothing about.

“The real value was jumping over that hurdle of fear and conquering it, discovering that I could actually get up and talk a little bit before a group of people,” Suzanne Lierz said.

Suzanne Lierz went on to travel by bus with 4-H to Washington, D.C., where she met with her congressional delegation and participated in citizenship classes. Suzanne and Rick Lierz also experienced being 4-H parents, as their daughters participated in the program. Suzanne Lierz was their 4-H leader.

Marcia Ney remembers Suzanne Lierz as a “go-getter, and she was fun to work with because she would follow through and come up with ideas.”

Ney learned about the endowment in her honor shortly after Christmas.

“It made tears come to my eyes when I realized what it was,” Marcia Ney said. “I was just speechless. It was such an honor.”

Gene Luntey ’43 chemical engineering, and his wife, Beverly Weber Luntey ’45, journalism, experienced understandable culture shock when they moved to Brooklyn, New York, population 2.5 million, in 1947. A long way from Buhl, Idaho, population 2,500, where he was born and raised, Gene had accepted a position as a junior engineer at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company in New York City, never dreaming that he would one day command the huge company as president and chairman. Beverly was personal secretary to Mrs. William S. Paley and wrote for the Spokane, Washington, newspaper about life in New York. They raised one son. “I could not have had a better career or personal life, and it all started at the University of Idaho,” Gene said.  In 2018, Gene honored Beverly and the U of I by making a gift in his will for the College of Engineering and the School of Journalism and Mass Media.

Sadly, Gene passed away in September 2022, but his generosity lives on through the students and programs that will be helped thanks to his legacy gift.

For more information about making a gift in your will to the University of Idaho, contact Sharon Morgan, morgans@uidaho.edu or toll-free at 866-671- 7041. Read more about Gene’s incredible life story.

Growing up in Caldwell, Idaho, Linda Marler ’75 was encouraged by her family to pursue a college degree. Now retired from her career in education, Linda, who lives in Colfax, Washington, with her husband, Martin, is working to give back to the University of Idaho with a focus on current and future Idaho college students who need financial support.

“We hope to enable capable students to attend U of I and graduate with little to no debt,” Linda says. “My wish is that students experience learning, make lifelong friendships and retain practical experiences.”

Linda had to work throughout college to pay for her education. She understands how her U of I degree in home economics education, now family and consumer sciences, gave her the opportunities to have a successful career. She attributes her success in part to her time at the university and the work ethic instilled in her from a young age.

“My parents were a great inspiration for my education and taught us proper work ethics and habits,” she says. “My great-aunt, Cornelia Holmes, was a teacher and a librarian. She was a great inspiration to all of her nephews and great-nieces and nephews. My husband and daughter also inspire me to continue to be productive and active in retirement.”

The Marlers’ philanthropic efforts during retirement are important to Idaho students and to the state. Linda often shares with others about how opportunities to fund a charitable gift annuity at U of I are an investment in student lives and futures.

“The income we get back from the annuity gives us security toward our retirement,” she says. “But we also want to honor my parents, and we know how much more expensive college is now, so the solution is to endow scholarships in our parents’ honor with these gifts, hence making it that much more affordable for others to study at U of I.” Linda and Martin also have made a gift to U of I in their wills.

The Marlers would like to see U of I expand enrollment and offer more opportunities to Idaho residents and students from other states and countries. Through their encouragement and support, they are able to give in hopes of a better tomorrow.

“The size of the gift does not matter,” Linda says. “Small gifts from many gather to make larger gifts.”

Give a Gift That Pays You Back

Learn how you can follow in Linda and Martin’s footsteps and give a gift that provides you—and future U of I students—a more secure tomorrow. Contact Sharon Morgan at giftplanning@uidaho.edu or (866) 671-7041 to learn more.

Moscow, Idaho native and retired Arizona State University Dean of Students, Jo Anne O’Donnell ’61 said that she doesn’t remember exactly how old her father was when his song became the official University of Idaho fight song. But as a musician with a love for music, J. M. “Morey” O’Donnell ’36 wrote the fight song for a contest during his freshman year and it became the favorite among Vandals.

“I don’t know who got him to do it, but I do know that Bing Crosby introduced another song at some point,” O’Donnell said. “Dad and I liked Bing Crosby, but out of all the possible songs about U of I, the people preferred to stick with ‘Go Vandals, Go!’”

As a child, O’Donnell attended jazz concerts at the Memorial Gymnasium with her father. As a student, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority where she made many lifelong friends. She even participated in sporting events as a cheerleader and cheered to the tune of her father’s song.

“When I was a freshman in college, the university invited Dad to play the fight song during a basketball game at half time, which he did, but he played it on the piano,” she said. “It was always something special to me, particularly because as a cheerleader I was able to do my little dance routine to my dad’s song.”

O’Donnell decided to give her estate gift to the University of Idaho Foundation, where she designated 75 percent of her total gift to be applied to the J. Morey and Virginia “Sammy” O’Donnell Family Scholarship Endowment, a scholarship that directly benefits students in the Lionel Hampton School of Music. The remaining 25 percent of her estate gift will be applied to the Vandaleer Endowment Fund, which funds the operations of the choir, the purchase of music and support for an annual tour.

“I debated on whether to give to the Law school, because Dad actually graduated from law school at Idaho, or give to music,” she said. “Since Dad’s legacy is really tied more to his music and the fact that he played so many times for so many different U of I events—that’s really his lasting legacy. It just made sense to choose the School of Music.”

O’Donnell made a portion of her estate gift to the Vandaleers because her father had friends who were Vandaleers with whom he recorded the fight song and because she herself was a Vandaleer.

“I just think U of I is a wise investment,” she said. “If someone had a good experience at U of I, they should definitely consider how they could make that experience possible for other students who are coming up. Idaho is a choice. I think it’s worth it, but students need all the help they can get to stay in school and graduate.”

When Rich Patterson ’71 got on a plane from Newark, New Jersey, with a final destination in Moscow, Idaho, to study fishery biology, he had no idea what he was in for. Now, 46 years later, Rich and his wife, Marion, ’78 have raised their two children Nancy Patterson ’06, ’09, and Daniel Patterson, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, while staying connected to the university, making annual gifts and putting U of I in their estate plan.

“Our means are modest,” Rich and Marion said. We would love to give the university millions of dollars, but we can’t. We have a favorite quote by Edward Everett Hall, ‘I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.‘ The endowed fund we created at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is what we can do. It will generate an annual cash stream to help Idaho students forever, and we’re proud of that.”

“We are strong believers in education,” they continued. “Helping future students who may be struggling financially warms our hearts.”

As the executive director for a privately-funded nature center for 39 years, Rich understands the need for alumni who give back to their alma mater.

“Generous donors supported my salary, family and organization,” Rich said. I believe strongly in giving back.”

Rich and Marion have fond memories of their time at U of I and have a strong desire to see U of I students succeed.

“I learned so much,” Rich said. “It was in the late 60’s and I was in the ROTC and that was always a stressful time, but I always learned both in traditional and non-traditional ways.”

“I attended U of I as a graduate student in the College of Education and it was comfortable right away,” Marion said. “U of I had engaging faculty and the Moscow campus is truly beautiful. Dr. James Fazio told me that I piloted environmental education at U of I by combining classes in physical education and natural resources. I was on campus just one semester and then wrote my thesis from Kansas. U of I proved to be flexible; Dr. Cal Latham was outstanding in this!”

The Pattersons agree that their time at U of I was transformational and their transition from East Coast living to the Pacific Northwest was seamless. Rich recalls, “I had never been to Idaho, never met anyone from Idaho and didn’t know anything about the U of I. But within a couple of days I met people who continue to be lifelong friends.”

“It’s somewhat of a cliché, but our experience at Idaho was inspiring and motivating,” Rich and Marion agree. “We hope this never stops happening for current students.”

Following his high school graduation from North Denver High School, Peterson enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Two years into his four year enlistment he was selected for an NROTC scholarship to attend the University of Idaho.

Pete was a first-generation college student and became very involved in campus life at the University. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Intercollegiate Knights, Borah Foundation Committee, Greek Caucus, Elections Commission, and also held several offices in his fraternity as well as leadership positions in NROTC. Pete also worked as a waiter at the Nobby Inn (now The Breakfast Club) and was head waiter at his fraternity. During his junior year, he received the Lambda Chi Alpha Leadership Award, and during graduation ceremonies received the American Legion Navy Award.

Pete graduated from the University of Idaho in 1962 with a bachelor of arts in political science. Following graduation, he was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam era. During his service in the Navy, Pete attained the rank of lieutenant and received several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following his time in the Navy, he attended Stanford University and earned a master of arts in secondary education in 1968. He then taught in the Jefferson School District in Daly City, California until he retired in 1998. During his career he was a member of the California Teachers Association and served as a mentor teacher. He received several National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher Fellowships in geography (National Geographic Society), the U.S. Constitution (University of California, Berkeley), Shakespeare (Columbia University), and children’s literature (Princeton University).

Pete has traveled extensively to Europe, South America, Mexico, Central America, Asia, and Africa, as well as within the U.S. and Canada. He continues to travel as much as possible. He also volunteers for the Idaho State Historical Museum, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and is a substitute teacher in the Meridian School District. His hobbies include volunteering, traveling, swimming, bicycling, hiking, reading attending theater, films and concerts, entertaining friends and developing new friendships. And of course – Vandal football.

Pete decided to establish this scholarship in order to help other first-generation college students. He hopes that someday others will consider doing the same, creating opportunities for future Vandals to pursue a college education.

For Ron Perez, attending the University of Idaho in the ’50s proved to be a transformational experience in his life. It was at U of I that top-flight professors mentored him; he bonded with classmates and his fraternity brothers; and, through the network of the Vandal family, landed a job with a company he would stay with for his entire career.

The 1956 forest, rangeland and fire science graduate came to U of I following a few semesters at a university in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. The curriculum offered at U of I, as well as the Pacific Northwest location, was appealing to the Midwesterner.

Upon arriving in Moscow, he knew immediately he had made the right decision.

“I could see the mountains, hear the whitewater and smell the forests,” he said of his bus ride to Moscow. “When I walked through the front door of the SAE house, I found total acceptance and friendship.”

While working as a forest ranger fighting a fire in the Clearwater Natural Forest, Perez suffered a traumatic injury that changed his academic decisions. No longer interested in a career as a ranger, and through the guidance of professors, he changed his area of emphasis to wood technology. It was this change that eventually led him to a job with Weyerhaeuser Company, where he worked in the forest products industry for 41 years.

His career path took the young alumnus away from Idaho, but a fondness for his alma mater remained. Ron and his wife, Catherine attended his 40th class reunion in Moscow in 1996, and Ron has served as the New York City representative for the alumni association’s chapter.

“I have enormous gratitude to the University of Idaho for the hands-on teaching, training and support I received during my undergraduate time in Moscow,” he said.

His gratitude for U of I is reflected not only in his service to the university, but also through the financial support he has committed to its future. Ron and Catherine are members of the university’s Heritage Society; donors who have made a commitment to the university in their estate plan. Sadly, Ron Perez has passed away, but his kindness will live on through the students who will be helped by the Perezes’ legacy gift.

Including the University of Idaho in your estate plans is easy to do. Contact Sharon Morgan at (866) 671-7041 or giftplanning@uidaho.edu. You can also visit the Estate, Trust, and Planned Giving site. Her team will walk you through the process, suggest strategies and ensure that your wishes are clearly defined. Giving to U of I through your estate plan is easier than you may think.

There are many benefits of being in the Vandal family. For many, it’s the relationships forged on campus that last a lifetime. For others, it’s the support and encouragement of a global community. Still others enjoy the many opportunities to explore and discover their passions. For Bob ’71 and Marcia ’71 Ross, it’s all of those — and more.

Bob’s connection with the University of Idaho started early on. His parents,
Richard H. Ross, Extension Dairy Specialist Emeritus, and Mary Jean moved to Moscow in the 1950s and were active in student affairs. They co-founded the Idaho Chapter of the Farmhouse Fraternity, opening their doors to homesick agricultural students.

“I remember some of the Farmhouse kids living in our basement and watching Bonanza with them,” Bob said. “And although Mom wasn’t their designated cook, she was probably the first housemother for the Farmhouse Fraternity. She had a degree in home economics from West Virginia University and we all took advantage of that.”

Also a fixture in the Ross house were family friends, many of whom were professors at the university. “Dad’s tenure at the university became part of our lives,” Bob said. “That’s the leading reason as to why I have such strong ties with U of I and why I chose to accept my full ride scholarship to play U of I basketball as a student-athlete.”

Bob played basketball under Varsity Coach Wayne Anderson for three years. Playing ball for U of I in Memorial Gymnasium was especially meaningful since he had dreamed of playing college basketball there since he was young boy.

“Although I loved playing basketball at the Memorial Gym, for the memories and the architecture of the building itself, I’m very excited about this new arena,” he said. So excited, in fact, that Bob and Marcia recently made a gift to the ICCU Arena from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA). “Being a contractor, I’m interested in architectural aspects of the building and I’m anxious to see it when it’s completed.”

Marcia and Bob met when she moved to Moscow from St. Maries in 1961. They both attended the Moscow Junior High School and had a lot of classes together. “Bob used to be the Moscow Junior High Spelling Bee Champion and in the finals of our eighth grade match, I beat the crap out of him,” Marcia said.

It was five years after that fateful spelling bee match that Bob and Marcia started dating during their senior year of high school. They married during their senior year at U of I.

Originally, Marcia started out as a pre-medical major, but switched her major to history after a year until she discovered a love for Latin, which she pursued wholeheartedly.

Like Marcia, Bob discovered his true passion after starting as an architecture major. He found he enjoyed the required math for his engineering classes so much that he changed his major to engineering.

Bob and Marcia both value the education they received at U of I, which helped them establish two successful careers. Marcia taught Latin in the Boise School District and spent several years in the banking industry before returning to the classroom to teach high school Latin in Boise. After graduation, Bob worked for Morrison Knudsen and went on to cofound the Falash and Ross Construction Company.

“My education from U of I taught me to solve problems, no matter what the problems were,” Bob said. “I wouldn’t trade that education for anything.”

Bob and Marcia also participated in U of I’s Greek system. Bob was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and Marcia was a member of the Tri Delta sorority.

“Our experience with the U of I Greek system was strong,” Bob said. “Marcia and I made life-long friends with good people, who are still doing well to this day. U of I Greek life is a unique experience that one can’t find anywhere else in Idaho.”

Driven by their eagerness to help other students attain the U of I education and experience they both cherish, Bob and Marcia have also included U of I in their estate plans, which will provide significant scholarship support to students with high financial need and give future Vandals all the benefits of the Vandal family.

“We love the idea of helping students in need,” Marcia said. “With our support, we hope to empower more students to attend U of I without their feeling the need to take out student loans.”

“We want to give students financial support,” Bob said, “especially those who might not pursue a university education without it.”

Graduating from the University of Idaho in 1966, graduate school and my career path took me away from Idaho. But the experience at this university grounded me, and my roots grew deep over the years.

Carolyn and I returned to Moscow every summer, and in the 1980s, we bought a place where we’d eventually retire, in July of last year. On those summer trips, a drive through campus was always a must, along with stories to our children of my time there. In addition to my classes, I worked in the university library, which provided me the foundation for my career. They were good years.

As Carolyn and I reflected on where we might invest in the future, the university was always a part of that plan. Of course, we made provisions for our children and grandchildren, but I recalled the scholarship support and the work at the library and how it provided me the means to finish my degree. I wanted to invest in that future for others.

Coming from the small town of Potlatch, Idaho, I remember the challenge of being able to go on to college. So we made provisions in our estate to support a scholarship in perpetuity, as well as provide an endowment for the library to continue to develop its collections and services. I was glad that we didn’t have to invest in just one of our interests.

But we didn’t stop with a bequest. We have made an annual commitment in the spirit of our bequests for both scholarships and for the university library. While we are living, we want to see where our investment will be going. I am pleased with how each of our interests is being handled. The university’s attention to our interests has been rewarding.

We have worked hard to save for our retirement and count on our good health as we age, so including the University of Idaho in our plans seemed natural. Now that we are back, we have enjoyed becoming more involved with the life of the campus. It is our small way to inspire the future.

For more information on this and other ways to give, please contact Sharon Morgan at (866) 671-7041 or giftplanning@uidaho.edu.

Very best wishes from both of us,

Gary and Carolyn Strong

P.S. Working with the university, you decide what is important for your support and can specify that program, department, scholarship fund or any other purpose in your estate plan. It may not cost you a penny and it is easier than you may think.

Dennis Ujiiye ‘70 and Debra Murata ’73 met at the University of Idaho in the fall of l969. Dennis was raised on a farm in Nampa, Idaho. Deb’s parents were sent to an internment camp during World War II. After the war, they farmed near Fruitland, Idaho. Dennis and Deb’s parents valued education, encouraging them to pursue a college degree.

Today Dennis farms the Murata land. Deb is retired from a career in special education. They raised a daughter and have a granddaughter. In 2014 they committed a portion of their estate to U of I to benefit the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Education.

The alumni couple, like so many, have fond memories of not only meeting their spouses while at college, but also of the opportunities their education provided them in their respective careers.

As a passionate educator, Deb spent 33 years in education helping students overcome learning obstacles.

“I learned as much from them as I probably taught… unconditional acceptance, perseverance, kindness that knows no barriers, the blessings of humor; teaching and learning that was always mutually beneficial,” she said.

Dennis was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and Alpha Zeta, while earning his degree in ag economics and business administration. As a student, he was a scholarship recipient who says financial support helped assist his academic goals while easing the burden of costs.

“Like making sure that our daughter and granddaughter are provided for, we view our support of U of I students, faculty, programs and facilities through our estate gift an investment — an investment that will pay great dividends twofold. Students will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and become better leaders who will subsequently use their knowledge, skills and talents to positively impact their communities, states, country and world,” Dennis said.

In the 1980s, the University of Idaho’s Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology began excavating archaeological sites related to Idaho’s pioneers of Chinese descent. As a U of I graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in history, Priscilla Wegars ’91 recognized the need to preserve the artifacts found at the archaeological sites. With support from the U of I Department of Anthropology, in 1982 Wegars raised enough money to found the Asian American Comparative Collection (AACC).

“We began to collect whole items so that fragments found archaeologically could be identified more easily,” Wegars said. The AACC’s major artifact classes now include food and beverage containers, table ceramics, medicinal paraphernalia and other personal and domestic objects. Items housed there are available to U of I students, faculty and staff for research into Asian-American topics.

Today Wegars is a U of I affiliate assistant professor of Sociology and Anthropology, a volunteer curator and donor. In addition to her contributions to the AACC, Wegars supports U of I students by sitting on thesis and dissertation committees.

To help ensure continued funding of the AACC, Wegars recently gave U of I a rental property in Moscow, which was sold so that the proceeds could augment the AACC Endowment. Her goal is to allow researchers like Ph.D. candidate Renae Campbell to continue using the AACC as a source for Asian-American research for many years to come.

“The AACC is invaluable.” Campbell said. “I used the archaeological collections, books and other resources at the AACC extensively for master’s degree research. I would not have been able to complete my thesis without Priscilla’s help, or the resources that she connected me with.”

The AACC is also available to students and faculty researchers from other institutions, as well as state and federal employees from agencies interested in using the AACC for demonstrations and other learning opportunities.

“We often take artifacts to various communities in conjunction with presentations,” Wegars said. “We have also loaned objects to exhibits like the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Washington, and the Museum der Kulturen Basel in Switzerland.”

“I would like the AACC to become self-supporting through the AACC Endowment, which needs to provide enough income for a full-time or part-time curator,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the U of I’s support of my work with the AACC, and look forward to its continued progress.”

1,500 unsharpened standard No. 2 pencils laid end to end stretches just about 938 feet, or just over two and a half football fields.

1,500 pounds of tater tots – a standard of elementary school lunches every where – is about 70,200 tots, enough to feed more than 7,500 elementary school children.

1,500 one-inch three-ring binders (that’s 4,500 rings) can hold 262,500 sheets of homework, note paper and classtime doodles.

At the University of Idaho Foundation, 1,500 goes a bit further – that’s the number of fully funded endowments now supporting students, faculty, research and programs at Idaho’s land-grant institution.

That 1,500 amounts to more than $10.2 million in scholarship and program support distributed each year – and $165 million distributed since 1959. Like Shirley, many loyal Vandals choose to leave a gift to U of I in their will. As a result, an impressive 34% of endowment gifts come from estates.

The credit for that milestone number goes to the late Shirley A. (Williamson) Wentz – a lifelong Vandal supporter and dedicated educator – whose gift to the College of Education created the 1,500th endowment for U of I’s charitable giving organization.

Originally from Caldwell, Wentz earned her bachelor’s degree in education from U of I in 1971 and dedicated her career to educating young minds in the Mountain Home and Boise school districts as an elementary and kindergarten teacher.

“To have a teacher pay it forward to the next generation of teachers is very special,” said Joy Fisher, director of finance for the Foundation. “It’s gratifying to see that this alumna, who helped so many students during her career, will be remembered and continue to touch lives through education.”

Wentz’s devotion to her students went beyond their time in her classroom; parents and former students often kept in touch with her over the years. She had a reputation for teaching with energy, love and excitement, and encouraged many student teachers in her classroom.

Wentz passed away in Caldwell in May 2015 at age 66.

“Shirley had a smile that was contagious, and the most incredible blue eyes, which would sparkle whenever she spoke of her children, family, friends and students,” her family wrote in her obituary. Wentz was married to Bill Wentz for 21 years and the couple had two children, Brian and Amy, and seven grandchildren.

Wentz created a permanent legacy of her devotion to education with a $25,000 gift to the U of I Foundation to create the Shirley A. Wentz Education Scholarship Endowment. Her legacy supports future elementary education teachers from Ada and Canyon counties in Idaho. Her wish was to help future educators so they too might enjoy the rewards she received from introducing young readers to the power of books and reading.

“It is quite fitting that the 1,500th endowed scholarship would come from Shirley Wentz, lifelong educator and die-hard Vandal,” said Ali Carr-Chellman, dean of U of I’s College of Education. “We are so grateful for the help that Shirley’s endowed scholarship provides to our students in the College of Education.”

Wentz’s pride in U of I and love of the Vandals didn’t waver throughout her life, said her sister-in-law Susan Williamson. Shortly before she passed away, Wentz’s doctor asked her to say something to test her breathing, Williamson said. In pain and barely able to speak, she looked at the doctor and said “Go Vandals!”

Endowments like the one left by Wentz are invested over the long term to support students, faculty, research and university programs, Fisher said. With $300 million in total assets, the U of I Foundation is the largest of its kind in the state, and a top performer nationally in portfolio management for educational institutions.

Kathy (Skok) Whistler and Jim Whistler met as freshmen at the University of Idaho during a “freshman exchange” event between his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. Shortly after, Jim landed a job working as a server and dishwasher at Kathy’s sorority. As the months went by, she knew it was love when he began serving her extra desserts.

Now, after nearly 50 years of marriage, the Whistlers are leaving a permanent mark on the institution that helped shape their lives by including U of I in their estate plan.

Jim earned his degree in finance from the College of Business and Economics at U of I in 1970, and then his Juris Doctor from the College of Law in 1973. Kathy earned her bachelor’s in journalism from the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences in 1973.

Kathy worked for the Daily Idahonian in Moscow. As an undergraduate finance major, Jim interned in the Moscow office of Northwestern Mutual, where he worked with the late David Trail ’66.

“He was a great mentor, friend and fellow Vandal,” Jim said. “I didn’t realize at the time that this would be the beginning of a long career.”

After graduating and passing the Idaho and California Bar exams, Jim took a job with Northwestern Mutual, where he still works as a wealth management advisor.

“Idaho prepared me for my career by teaching me to think critically,” Jim said.

“I received an excellent education,” Kathy added. “That served as a foundation for my graduate studies and ultimately a career.”

In 1975, Kathy earned a Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1980, the Whistlers moved to San Diego where Jim worked at the Northwestern Mutual office as a manager until 1991 when he decided to go into personal sales. At the same time, Kathy began a 34-year career in the library profession and retired from the San Diego Legal Research Center in 2014.

In 2017, Jim and Kathy decided to use their estate to create an endowment at U of I that would broaden educational horizons for future generations of students.

“It’s another way to give back, to create a legacy for education in Idaho,” Jim said. “Post-high school education is expensive. Sustainability requires long-term funding.”

The Whistlers’ gift, split between the excellence funds of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Law, will be used where the funds are needed most.

“We are both confident that the leadership of our respective colleges will use the funds to best serve their students,” Kathy said. “The administration knows better than we do where the resources are most needed and how they should be allocated.”

Gifts to these funds are flexible and allow colleges to invest in the most immediate and strategic needs of the college. Gifts to a college excellence fund can be used immediately, while gifts to an excellence fund endowment will build over time and provide annual support to the excellence fund.

“We give in hopes of replicating among young Idahoans the quality of education that we enjoyed,” Kathy said.

Susan ’72 and David Wishney ’72,’76 are proud and passionate Vandals who believe optimal spaces, scholarship opportunities and experiential programs are essential for student success. They also agree that student success depends on the university being the best it can be.

“My passion is the university,” Susan Wishney said. “However, the U of I Library holds a special place in my heart because it is the singular space on campus that provides a learning environment for the entire campus.”

Susan Wishney has served on the Library Advisory Board for the last five years, a testament to her belief in the library’s many resources and services.

“It’s not just a quiet place conducive to study,” she said. “It’s a multi-dimensional facility that offers spaces designated for group study, spaces set aside for drop-in tutoring, computer labs and the Mill (Making, Innovation and Learning Laboratory). There is also a space dedicated for special collections, maps and atlases, and of course physical and digital access to information.”

While sharing time and talent to strengthen the U of I library, the Wishneys understand the power of scholarships.

“I feel fortunate to have obtained my education from U of I,” Susan Wishney said. “Yet, I know there are many would-be Vandals who don’t enroll because they cannot afford it, or who do not complete their education because of mounting debt. Our donations for scholarships help some students surmount this obstacle and I’m gratified by that.”

Now retired, David Wishney attributes part of his professional success to a valuable education filled with memorable and significant experiences.

“Considering the quality of education that I received, the many lifelong friendships made and my career as a lawyer, my time at U of I was clearly life-defining,” he said. “One of the greatest opportunities I discovered at the university was spending one-on-one time with my professors. Cliff Dobler was my student advisor and business law instructor. He convinced me to apply for law school, a moment I look back on fondly.”

Taking their commitment a step further, in December 2019 the Wishneys met with Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) leaders and U of I College of Law faculty to explore a possible joint externship
between the law school and the HFF, a science-based collaboration to inform real-time management of the Henry’s Fork tributary river on the Snake River in Idaho and its wild trout fisheries.

“As we spent more time at HFF events, we learned how the foundation utilized summer interns to conduct a wide range of water and fish-related research projects,” he said. “We were surprised to learn that all past HFF interns were affiliated with out-of-state schools.”

Given HFF’s focus on Idaho resources, the Wishneys saw an opportunity to facilitate similar learning experiences for Idaho students through this specific externship. For law students, it
would open opportunities in environmental, natural resource, real property and water law.

“In the short run, the HFF benefits from the legal focus of the externship, and the extern receives invaluable real-world career training,” he said. The externship, which debuted in the spring 2020 semester, is designed to be a quality learning opportunity that also promotes the HFF mission of improving water quality and fish habitat. Ultimately, a broad spectrum of water users — from sportsmen to farmers, ranchers and power generators — could benefit from this unique program.

As an avid fisherman, outdoor enthusiast and proud Vandal, David Wishney wants to see the Henry’s Fork Foundation-U of I externship flourish. That’s why the Wishneys are on a mission to raise $400,000 to fully endow the externship.

“Susan and I know how difficult it is to convince fellow donors to shift a portion of their annual giving toward the externship and away from other U of I areas of need,” David Wishney said. “So, in order to raise the money to fully endow the externship, it is incumbent upon us to expand the donor base, and we welcome all the help we can get.”

As the Wishneys continue to partner with their alma mater to support student success, they also want the university to make progress on its institutional priorities, especially achieving R1 Carnegie classification (“very high research activity”) as Idaho’s leading research institution.

“The university houses the state’s law school and medical school through Idaho WWAMI,” Susan Wishney said. “And we have the highest research profile with more research dollars awarded in 2019 than Idaho State University and Boise State University combined. I would like my fellow Vandals to remember that U of I is Idaho’s flagship institution.”

By Joshua Nishimoto ’09, University Advancement