A student helping students

Nate Sears '97 was the manager of the
student-run eatery, The Cave.

"My first roommate received a Q Club scholarship. It sparked my curiosity about getting involved and donating," Sears said. "Though I knew little about the organization to begin with, when Q Club was mentioned around campus, it carried a special prestige. Fortunately, it didn't take much research to realize that this was something I needed to get involved with. So I became a student member of Q Club in 1996."

Why does Sears -- a student - - give to Q Club?

First, he said, it is an important way of showing his commitment to PLU. Second, by beginning to give now, he more than likely will continue to give in the future. "It is an important way to pace myself and know that I can budget this yearly," Sears said. Finally, giving to Q Club is a nice way of showing support for students in need. "I hope to help provide an opportunity for other students," he said.

Offner offers gift of service

"I wished all along that I could become a member to help students," she confessed.

Dona Offner delivers mail around campus.

"There are a lot of talented students and I wanted to do what I could to help individuals that otherwise may not have been able to attend PLU." Offner continued, "Q Club is a wonderful thing to donate to... I don't know what better cause to give to."

A husband's love inspires nursing scholarship

PLU nursing students will benefit from the new scholarship.

Naydene graduated as a registered nurse from Tacoma General's program in 1947 and served at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Wash., and Tacoma General and Puget Sound Hospital in Tacoma. She was a school nurse for the Puyallup School District in the 1950s and 1960s.

Harold established the scholarship, and has set into motion plans to endow the scholarship in perpetuity, with the intent of providing full tuition to a nursing student with financial need. Though none of their family graduated from PLU and their time on campus was quite limited, Harold chose PLU to receive this gift because Naydene always commented on how impressed she was by the PLU nursing students. Her own school at Tacoma General was closed many years ago.

Now retired, Harold taught English and journalism at Wapato and Puyallup high schools and was director of public relations for the Tacoma School District for more than 20 years.

Q Club banquet celebrates 25 years, campaign success

"It promises to be different from any other banquet we've planned," said Lauralee Hagen, chair of the Q Club banquet committee.

Campaign accomplishments will be chronicled in a video and new members to the Lifetime Giving Society will be inducted, "as well as a number of surprises we think Q Club members will enjoy," said Hagen.

To join Q Club and be a part of the festivities, call Dave Berntsen at 1-800-258-6758.

Groundbreaking commences music center completion

David Benson '94, Jane Russell and Darren Kerbs '96
watch as Mary Baker Russell breaks ground for the
$3 million addition to the music center bearing her name.

A major and unexpected gift from Mary Baker Russell in November provided funds for Phase II of the building bearing her name, including the addition of teaching studios, practice rooms, rehearsal halls and office space. Construction began in February with completion targeted for November.

New pipe organ is one of region's largest

The four-story-high organ features delicate, rounded carvings by Judy Fritts, sister of the organ builder, Paul Fritts. Their father, Byard Fritts, was a PLU music faculty member from 1949-1966 and the university's organist for 30 years.

The $920,000 project received a $300,000 naming gift from the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation for capstone funding. Other lead financial gifts came from friends and alumni, including Jeffrey and Patricia Smith, Mary Baker Russell, George and Jane Russell, Tom and Kay Anderson, the late Julian Foss and David Dahl (PLU music professor and organist).

The Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation was created in 1960 to support charitable, educational, scientific, literary or religious purposes primarily within Tacoma, Pierce County and the lower Puget Sound area.

Memorial lecture explores the right to die

Dax Cowart and Robert Burt

While they had discussed these issues through phone calls and correspondence in the past, Burt and Cowart met face-to-face for the first time to hold a "public conversation" about when and how to let patients make the choice to die. The lecture packed Chris Knutzen Hall with members of the PLU community, as well as local nurses, doctors and others interested in Cowart's case.

Through the lecture, the audience was able to consider both Burt's and Cowart's concerns and then ask questions, exploring such topics as pain management, the state of health care, how long to challenge a severely-hurt patient's wish to die, and society's views of the disabled.

Culpeper Foundation sponsors language learning center

Regents Anne Long, Otto Stevens and Jon Olson
(seated) explore one of the language and culture
programs in the new Language Resource Center.

The Language Resource Center also serves as an art gallery, featuring the works of a local artist each semester. Decorating the center's walls this spring are seven paintings by former PLU art instructor Becky Frehse. The paintings are reflections of her nine-month stay in China.

Faculty members and hands-on equipment make the difference for science grads

PLU alumnus Neil Kelleher '92, now completing his Ph.D. at Cornell University, conducts cutting-edge research that significantly affects others' work in biotechnology. As an undergraduate he worked side-by-side with his chemistry professor Craig Fryhle on molecular probes to better understand enzymes. His work helped him earn a Fulbright Scholarship to do research at the University of Constanz in Germany right after his PLU graduation.

Sheri Tonn, dean of natural sciences, demonstrates
a computer modeling function to Neil Kelleher '92.

Jennifer Specht Brannfors '94 started her cancer research on mussels with Professor Arthur Gee and, together, they published their findings in "Molecular Marine Biology and Biotechnologies." After her PLU graduation, Jennifer had completed two years of medical school when she was awarded a Howard Hughes Fellowship to the National Institutes of Health. She has taken a leave of absence from school to conduct breast cancer research with Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at NIH.

These two alums, and many like them, explored their scientific interests as undergraduates at PLU. With faculty mentors. On advanced scientific equipment.

Now, thanks to a challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation, you can help Make a Lasting Difference for students like Neil and Jennifer, whose work in turn makes a difference in the world.

It works like this: If you can help us raise $1 million for the Science Equipment Endowment by Nov. 1, 1997, the Kresge Foundation will add $250,000 for this purpose, thus ensuring future generations of undergraduate students access to advanced scientific equipment. The Kresge Foundation has already given PLU $250,000 to purchase state-of-the-art computer equipment and the means to electronically link science classrooms and labs.

Your cash gifts and pledges to the Science Equipment Endowment Challenge (SEEC) can be paid over a five-year period (until May 31, 2001).

Call Faye Anderson at 1-800-826-0035 for more information.

"I decided to co-chair this important effort because I believe in the enormous need for science equipment in perpetuity. I made my gift because of the enormous gift PLU gave me when I was an undergraduate. I think it is our responsibility to treat the next generation of scientists with the same - - if not better - - opportunities we had." JERRY ARMSTRONG '60

Professor Art Gee and student Gretchen Dubeck
perform marine biology research.

Campaign Accomplishments

• Tripled PLU's endowment from $8 million in 1992 to more than $24 million today
  
• Created 950 annual Q Club scholarships
  
• Set into motion three endowed chairs for Scandinavian studies, biology and education
  
• Completed and furnished the Mary Baker Russell Music Center, including the Lagerquist Concert Hall and Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Organ
  
• Established 100 new named endowed scholarships and program endowments
  
• Renovated residence halls (Kreidler, Tingelstad, Hong) and athletic facilities (swimming pool, basketball court, track, turf room)

Natural sciences serves as Murdock host

A special thanks to those who helped lead the way

C H A I R

Donald Morken '60 Don Morken has provided outstanding campaign leadership. His organization, enthusiasm and generosity are inspirational. For Don, it is a way to say thank you to a university, and one professor in particular, who helped him chart a successful life. He and his wife, Wanda, have encouraged others' giving through Q Club challenge gifts; the Morkens give at the highest Q Club level; they established the Donald and Wanda Morken Family Endowed Scholarship; they co-endowed the Raphael Lemkin Prize for an annual essay competition about genocide; and they documented a sizable deferred commitment. And, they have entrusted the university with the education of their daughter, Sonya. She is currently earning an MBA at PLU.

H O N O R A R Y C O - C H A I R S

Thomas and Kay Anderson Tom, retired co-founder of Concrete Technology Inc., and Kay were charter Q Club members and Tom is past-chair of the board of regents. The Andersons are Senior Fellows of Q Club and significant contributors to the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Organ.

Arthur and Jennie '34 Hansen Jennie is a '34 alum and a retired teacher, and Arthur is the retired founder of A.H. Hansen Sales Ltd., a food services and distribution company in Hawaii. The Hansens have provided enormous leadership and inspiration, and have established the Jennie Lee Hansen Scholarship at PLU.

Gordon and Alice Kayser Gordon is a retired mechanical engineer and computer consultant, and Alice is a former nurse. One of the many things they have done for PLU was to establish the Phillip G. and Alice L. Kayser Endowed Scholarship, given to PLU students in engineering or nursing.

George Lagerquist George is the president of GALCO International Trading Co., a lumber and plywood shipping company. The former PLU regent has given to PLU in many ways, most notably through the concert hall that bears his name and the funding of the Chihuly glass sculpture for the Mary Baker Russell Music Center.

Mary Baker Russell Mary Baker Russell has found a special place in the hearts of student performers and audience members alike. Her charismatic charm is matched only by her love for PLU students, whom she considers her own. Her leadership gift to both Phase I and Phase II of the Mary Baker Russell Music Center ensures a grand facility for the art of music making for generations to come.

V I C E   C H A I R S

Gerry '63 and Linda '61 Evanson Linda, a regent, and Gerry established an endowed scholarship for education students. They, like Don and Wanda Morken, gifted the university with their daughter. Leigh Ann graduated in 1992 and now serves in the Peace Corps in Central Africa.

John '68 and Shirley '69 Oakley John, a regent, and Shirley are Senior Fellows of Q Club, and received a Mentor Award at the 1995 Q Club Fellows banquet. They live in Mill Creek, Wash., and have three children. Son John is a '94 PLU graduate.

Joyce and Kenneth "Skip" Hartvigson, Jr., both '65 alums Ken, a regent, and Joyce have provided a deferred gift to establish the Haavik-Hartvigson Endowed Chair in Education. They live in Seattle, and have two children. Brett '92 and Koll '93 are both PLU alums.

A T - L A R G E   C A B I N E T   M E M B E R S

Frank and Sandra '83 Jennings Frank, chair of PLU's board of regents, and Sandra have given not only financial gifts to PLU, but the gifts of time and talent. As a small example, Frank's thoughtful commencement and convocation greetings offer treasured pearls of wisdom for students, families, faculty and staff.

William and Michelle '74 Krippaehne Bill, a regent, and Michelle are Q Club Fellows and members of the Heritage Society. The couple lives in Seattle with their four children.

Jane and George Russell Jane, a regent, and George have established the Frank Russell Company Endowed Business Scholarship, donated significantly to the music center named after George's mother, Mary Baker Russell, and helped fund the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Organ.

Carolie Smith '71 Not only do Carolie and her husband, Dick, contribute at the Fellows level of Q Club, but Carolie manages to give the gift of time as well. She co-teaches graduate and undergraduate finance courses at PLU.

David '56 and Elisabeth '57 Wold David, former chair of the board of regents, and Elisabeth are Senior Fellows in Q Club and members of the Lifetime Giving Society. David is bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the ELCA and Elisabeth serves as vice-chair of the Good Samaritan Hospital board of directors. Their four daughters - Karen '81, Kathryn '83, Kristen '86 and Heidi '87 - graduated from PLU.

Q Club names new president

Gintz accepts the position with nearly two decades of Q Club experience. She and her husband, Ron '70, have been active members since 1980. They also serve as regional co-chairs on the National Campaign Cabinet of the Make a Lasting Difference campaign.

Outside of her work with PLU, Gintz is the career services manager at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash. She has also taught math classes, from beginning algebra to calculus, at Highline, PLU and Fife High School. Gintz and her husband also provide a home for boys who have struggled with problems such as drug addiction, anger management, conflict with their own parents and failure in school. Presently, six boys ages 16-18 live in their home in Federal Way.

Gintz is also part of three generations of Lutes. Her father, Richard Knutzen, graduated from PLU in 1955, and her son, Mike, graduated in December.

Ingird shares our thanks to former president Larry Green '76 for his three years of outstanding service as her predecessor.