1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Alumni

Anonymous donor pledges matching gift of up to $1 million

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—In honor of the April 29, 2011 inauguration of R. Owen Williams, Transylvania’s 25th president, an anonymous donor has pledged a matching gift of up to $1 million for Transylvania alumni and friends who make a gift of $10,000 or more by April 30. Contributions that bring a donor’s cumulative giving for the 2010-11 fiscal year to $10,000 or more also count toward the challenge. The donor’s gift and funds raised from the challenge will be used to help move Transylvania forward by immediately implementing parts of the 2009-12 Strategic Plan and other initiatives. Williams has stressed five points of concentration: diversity, globalization, sustainability, technology and community outreach. “Our anonymous donor is a dear friend of the university,” said Mark Blankenship, acting vice president for development. “His generosity of matching gifts of $10,000 or more gives people added incentive to help the university they love.” Blankenship said that donors may choose how their gifts are used, including support for any specific area including the annual fund, which helps the university meet its more urgent needs, or for named scholarships and the general scholarship fund, which allow prospective students with financial need the chance to experience a Transylvania education. To make your gift and help move Transylvania forward, or for any questions, please contact the development office at (800) 487-2679 or email:Mark Blankenship ’81, acting vice president for development and associate vice president for alumni affairsSusie H. Bullock, development writerLori

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Karen Caldwell, Dorothy Smith, Jennifer Moore and Richard J. Corman receive top honors at Transylvania’s alumni weekend awards ceremony

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University bestowed its top awards to distinguished alumni and friends during its recent alumni weekend awards luncheon. Karen K. Caldwell ‘77, received the Irvin E. Lunger Award, which is presented for unique and exceptional service to Transylvania; Dorothy Steinbeck Smith ‘42 received the Morrison Medallion, which is presented to graduates for outstanding service to Transylvania and its programs; Jennifer A. Moore ‘95, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for extraordinary involvement at Transylvania; and Richard J. Corman received the Transylvania Medal for outstanding service to the university. Caldwell rarely misses an opportunity to support her alma mater. She is a member of the board of trustees and recently served on the presidential search committee. She is a former member of the alumni executive board and past president of the Bluegrass Area Alumni Club. She connects with prospective students, speaks at Scholarship Days and delivered the commencement address in 2005, where she was presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree. In 2006 she received an Outstanding Alumna of Kentucky Award from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. The first woman to serve as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Caldwell was chief federal prosecutor for several high-profile cases that drew statewide attention. In August 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Caldwell to serve as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, a lifetime appointment. The nomination sailed through Senate confirmation hearings, and

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Transylvania trustee issues challenge to alumni

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University consistently ranks in the top 15 colleges and universities nationwide for the percentage of alumni who give to their alma mater. An anonymous member of Transylvania’s Board of Trustees has challenged non-giving alumni to give, and alumni who already give to increase the amount of their gift, by promising to contribute $250,000 in matching funds. However, alumni have to contribute $250,000 in new and increased gifts by June 30, 2010, for the university to receive the $250,000 in matching funds. “We hope that all our alumni will take advantage of this opportunity to increase the value of their gift,” said Mark Blankenship ’81, acting vice president for alumni and development.  The timing of the trustee’s challenge also creates an opportunity for alumni to demonstrate their appreciation for President Charles L. Shearer’s 31 years of service to Transylvania, including the last 27 as president. Shearer will retire at the end of June.  “Dr. Shearer has worked tirelessly to help make a Transylvania education possible for all qualified students, regardless of family financial circumstances,” said Blankenship. “And, he has worked countless hours to strengthen the university in every way possible.” There are two components for the challenge. The donor will match the full amount of gifts made by alumni who have not contributed to the Transylvania Annual Fund since June 30, 2006, which would make a $50 gift a $100 gift. For alumni who have contributed since June 30,

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Transylvania wins AIKCU’s annual "Battle of the Bumpers" contest for second year in a row

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—With the help of alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends, Transylvania University is the winner in the 2009 Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) “Battle of the Bumpers,” taking the title for the second year in a row. The contest is an annual competition among the 20 AIKCU campuses to put the most campus license plates on Kentucky highways, and in turn raise the most money for student scholarships. To win, Transylvania supporters purchased or renewed 735 license plates. In 2008, Transy supporters purchased or renewed 689 license plates to help Transylvania top the AIKCU campus totals. The custom plates advertise allegiance to Transylvania while supporting current students; $10 from the sale of each plate is returned directly to Transy’s general scholarship fund. “I am impressed with the number of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends who choose to show their Transylvania pride on their license plates,” said Transylvania President Charles L. Shearer.  “In particular, the support of our loyal alumni has been remarkable.” The Kentucky Independent Higher Education series plates took to the roads in 2002. Each independent college and university had its own plate, but they all shared a common design theme. Thanks to advances in license plate printing technology and some changes in state regulations, AIKCU members were able to work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to redesign their plates in late 2007. The new plates went on sale in January 2008.

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Transylvania alum chosen as Presidential Management Fellow in the Federal Transit Administration

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University alum Erik Weber ’07 has been named a Presidential Management Fellow in the Federal Transit Administration in Washington, D.C.  Through the fellowship, Weber works with the United We Ride agency, which focuses on helping communities provide safe, affordable and easy access to public transportation. “My work revolves around human service transportation issues, especially those of lower-income, disabled and older Americans,” said Weber. “These transportation-disadvantaged populations require more specific attention because they may not have the same access to standard transit services that are available in their communities.” For 29 years, the Presidential Management Fellows Program has been used by federal agencies to attract outstanding graduate students from a wide variety of academic disciplines to public service. The two-year fellowship offers extensive formal classroom training and rotational assignment opportunities. “Former Fellows at FTA have rotated within the administration or the department or gone outside of federal government altogether,” Weber said. Weber took the position in Washington, D.C., after being offered a teaching position in Austria through the prestigious Fulbright Program. He is fluent in German and has taught German to high school students through Kentucky Educational Television. Weber graduated from Transylvania cum laude with a double major in political science and mathematics and a minor in music and said both his majors have served him well. “I took the political science into graduate school to get my master’s in public administration, but throughout that program, and now in

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