Stetson Cupola 1985-14-1

Annual Giving Issue upola The Stetson University Alumni Newspaper Vol. 14 No. 1 (USPS 990-560) Fall 1985 Dr. Pope A. Duncan 103rd year begins with challenge Stetson University began its 103rd academic year, Wednesday, Sept. 4, with the traditional outdoor Convocation exercise in the Forest of Arden welcoming almost 700 new students. Dr. Pope A. Duncan, president of the university, addressed the students, faculty and guests on the coming year. "We Are On Our Way," was the theme of the address. In his speech, Dr. Duncan challenged the students, faculty, and staff to re-examine what they hoped to accomplish at the university. Sixteen new faculty members are introduced during the program. Recipients of the university's endowed chairs were announced. Presidential Scholars, students who will received full four-year scholarships, were also announced. Volunteers make all the difference in annual fund-raising drive Stetson's first year following the successful completion of the Stetson/$50,000,000 Campaign was filled with examples of strong leadership and generous support, said Pope A. Duncan, president of the university. "Through the support of hundreds of donors and dedicated volunteers, we managed to maintain the enthusiasm of completing the Stetson/$50,000,000 Campaign, and actually increased unrestricted giving by almost 15 percent." "Gift totals were dramatic," said Dr. Duncan. More than $2 miUion was given for the 1984-85 operating budget, including $1,156,648 from Florida Baptist Churches and the Florida Baptist Convention. Special groups contributing to the $2 million total were parents of current and former students, friends of the university, the Friends of the School of Music, corporations, and foundations. The Presidential Counsellors program increased its total from $268,000 to $337,000. Alumni gave a total of $763,677 including $348,253 in unrestricted gifts for the Annual Fund. Last year the unrestricted total was $303,000. According to Linda Parson, director of development, leadership made the critical difference in this year's fundraising success. "Marie Dawson, Chairman of the Presidential Counsellors, added 55 new Presidential Counsellors and secured major unrestricted gifts of $79,000 and $20,000. Then George Mitcheson, chairman of the Annual Fund, provided fresh new ideas in marketing which brought this year's alumni fund to the highest total in several years. George Shierling's work with the Special Gift Clubs brought in a broad base of support so important in a fund raising program," Parson said. Mitcheson again is serving as Alumni Annual Fund Chairman and has announced a goal of $500,000 for unrestricted donations from alumni. "The greatest challenge of this goal is for every alumnus to participate in the Annual Fund," Mitcheson said. Foundations and charitable organizations often request information for their evaluation of Stetson on the total numbers of alumni who give, not just the amount of dollars. "They like to see how well alumni support their alma Mitcheson mater. Every gift is important,' cheson. said Mit- Hatters join Trans America Conference For the first time in its 102 year history Stetson University will be a member of a recognized athletic conference. Dr. Pope A. Duncan announced that the University has been accepted for membership in the Trans America Athletic Conference and will begin conference play in certain sports during the 1985-86 season. "We have long felt that membership in a conference would be of great benefit to our athletic program and I am very pleased that this has been accomplished," Dr. Duncan said. Discussion with the TAAC has been going on for many months and culminated the beginning of June when Lou McCullough, conference commissioner, visited the campus and formally invited the Hatters to become the TAAC's ninth member school. McCullough met with University administrators, the school's athletic advisory committee and coaching staff and outlined all phases of conference activity. Upon completion of his visit, Glenn Wilkes recommended that Stetson join the conference. His recommendation was supported by administration officials and approved by the Executive Committee of the school's Board of Trustees. Current members of the TAAC include Mercer University, Macon, Ga.; Georgia State University, Atlanta, Ga.; Georgia Southern College, Statesboro, Ga.; Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.; Centenary College, Shreveport, La.; Arkansas-Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark.; Houston Baptist University, Houston, Texas; and Hardin- Simmons University, Abilene, Texas. Hatter teams will compete in basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, cross country and volleyball. Because of scheduling problems the Hats will not compete in basketball and baseball during the first year of conference membership. It is expected the remaining teams will vie for conference titles during the 1985-86 season. Stetson matches Edyth Bush challenge grant Stetson University has met the $75,000 challenge grant proposed by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation according to Dr. Pope A. Duncan, university president. The grant was matched in April of this year. Fifty thousand dollars will be used toward the university's unrestricted gifts, with half designated for the music school building improvement projects. The unrestricted gifts were matched dollar for dollar by university contributors and alumni donations. The remaining $25,000 of the challenge grant was specifically designated for the completion of Presser Hall, the music school building on the DeLand campus. The Presser Hall grant generated $37,000 in new gifts from university supporters. The challenge grant was designed to stimulate new gifts and increase contributions ato Stetson, said David Roberts, president of the Bush Foundation. "Central Florida is extremely fortunate to have a benefactor of higher education like the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation," Duncan said. "Their matching grant not only helped to make Presser Hall an enviable facility for the study of music, it also gave us a tremendous boost toward increasing our unrestricted gifts by 10 percent over the previous year," Duncan said. The Presser Hall Challenge includes a general facelift for the music school and special renovations of previously unfinished areas of the second and third floors. The third floor will be completed to include a choral rehearsal room, several faculty studios and secured instrument storage. The entire project is valued at $275,000. Last year's second leading scorer and rebounder. Jay Daniels, is expected to be a standout for the Hatters as they prepare for conference play in the 1986-87 season. See Class Years on pages 14-22