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      The Pacific Lutheran University logo The Pacific Lutheran University logo

      Donor Stories

      • Office of Advancement
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      Contact Information

      Office of Advancement

      Phone: 253-535-7177

      Fax: 253-535-8377

      Email: advancement@plu.edu

      12501 Park Ave S
      Tacoma, WA 98447-0018

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      an interview between Vice President for Advancement Daniel Lee and First Year student Christine Njiri.
      An Interview with a Student Scholarship Recipient

      On April 27th, PLU hosted a dinner bringing together endowed scholarship donors with the students and faculty who have directly benefited from their generosity. A highlight of the evening was an interview between Vice President for Advancement Daniel Lee and First Year student Christine Njiri.

      David and Anita Christian
      Lifelong Lutes: Q&A With Two of PLU's Most Enthusiastic Alumni

      “We’re committed to the university’s growth as a whole. We want to see this place continue to blossom.” – Anita Christian. Learn why Anita’s family is supporting PLU with a legacy gift.

      Pete '78 and Joan (Nelson) Mattich '77
      Motivated to Give Back

      Pete ’78 and Joan (Nelson) Mattich ’77 are grateful for the opportunities and experiences that PLU gave them as students. “I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without those four years at PLU,” Joan says. “The university has given us so much; we want to give back.”

      Tom '83 and Holly Buskirk
      Tom '83 and Holly Buskirk: Keeping PLU's Unique Spirit of Service Alive

      As a longtime pilot for FedEx, Tom Buskirk ’83 considers his profession a technical one. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t value a liberal arts education, or the idea that a university should encourage its students to serve others.

      Brian Bradshaw '07
      Brian Bradshaw '07 Personified Care for the World, Service to Humankind

      Brian Bradshaw ’07 believed that an education makes the difference on how we see the world. Even after his death, his legacy of service lives on through an endowed scholarship created by his parents.

      David Wytko ’65 and granddaughter, Maria Wytko ’12
      Alum's Positive Experience Leads to a Legacy Gift

      David Wytko ’65 came to PLU after years in the workplace and he loved his PLU experience. Years later, he is still giving back to the school that he calls “the best thing that could have happened to me.”

      Benilda Regis Arinto Frey with daughter Eva and husband Steven
      A Mother's Sacrifice Acknowledged Through Support of First-Generation Students

      Eva Frey Johnson was the first in her family to attend college. Her mother, Benilda Regist Arinto Frey, was determined to have her daughter get a college education, so Eva decided to set up a scholarship fund to honor her mother. Learn her story.

      A Gift of Life Insurance

      Kyle Nowadnick’s gift of a life insurance policy will benefit Pacific Lutheran University well into its future.

      joel larson
      Long Lasting Connections

      Joel Larson chose to attend Pacific Lutheran University after experiencing our strong sense of community. This connection has lasted him throughout the years, and now Joel is using planned giving to stay connected to PLU after his lifetime.

      Carol F. Brandenburg-Smith ’80
      Carrying on a Legacy of Service

      Carol F. Brandenburg-Smith ’80 grew up in a family that valued generosity. Carol now thinks of the Pacific Lutheran University community as her family as well, and she has given generously to support the school’s future students. How?

      Jerry and Carolyn (Breuer) Haralson
      A Relationship With a University That Goes Back 50 Years

      Jerry ’62 and Carolyn (Breuer ’63) Haralson met at PLU, and graduated one year apart. They both joke that, after attending this year’s 50th reunion at Homecoming for Jerry, they’ll be right back next year, doing it all over again for Carolyn — which is certainly fine with them.

      Mike Larson ’83 and his wife, Beco
      A Family Tradition of Investing in a PLU Education

      For Mike ’83 and Beco Larson, attending PLU is money well invested. And the couple is giving back to help future PLU students.

      Craig Cammock ’91 and his wife Carrie
      Cammocks Ensure PLU Remains a Place for Students to Grow

      Giving the opportunity of a valued education is what led Craig and Carrie Cammock to support Pacific Lutheran University. Will you join them in supporting education?

      Norm Forness
      The Generous Spirit of Norm Forness

      Norm Forness was inspirational. He inspired his classmates to donate to PLU in honor of their 50th class reunion. But that’s not all. Read on to learn more.

      Jon Kvinsland ’63 and Vern Hoven
      Lute Pride Grows Among Neighbors

      The Lute experience can be infectious. Jon Kvinsland ’63 caught the bug early in life and has been passing it along ever since.

      As Heritage Society members, Betty and Orin Amundson received a framed etching of Harstad Hall (Old Main) in recognition of their thoughtful support of the university.
      The Gift of a Lifetime

      Betty and Orin Amundson left estate gifts to Pacific Lutheran University. In recognition of their generosity that will help educate future generations of PLU students, the couple belonged to the Heritage Society.

      PLU sign in front of Harstad
      A Shared Passion for Education Compels Non-Alum to Give

      Pat Wilson did not attend Pacific Lutheran University, but she has decided to create a legacy of giving at PLU. Read on to find out what ignited her passion for PLU and how she is giving back.

      Georgia ’59 and Denis Bailey
      Education: A Lutheran Tradition

      Georgia ’59 and Denis Bailey have seen firsthand how a PLU education can build a successful career. Now the couple is supporting PLU through a charitable gift annuity, which benefits their family and PLU for years to come.

      Gary Mitchell '80: A Formative Experience for Him, and for Others

      The way Gary Mitchell ’80 tells it, his decision to attend PLU in the late 1970s had a lot to do with the idea of being close enough, but not too close, to his Bay Area, California, home.

      Laura Polcyn ’74, ’79 and husband Mark
      Through Personal Experience, an Empathy for Transfer Students

      Laura Polcyn has a special spot in her heart for transfer students, as she was one herself, transferring from Tacoma Community College to finish her degree at PLU. She had saved enough money from two years of full-time work to be able to afford PLU.

      Marvin J. Ramstad ’38
      Ramstad Scholarship a Fitting Tribute to a PLU Leader

      Gifts in memory of a loved one are a cherished part of the close relationship with the university that are often built by PLU families.

      Phil Edlund ’00, ’06
      For the Edlund Family, Roots to PLU Run Deep

      The Edlund family has been intertwined with PLU for many years. To show their appreciation for the university, they are giving back in a big way. Keep reading to find out how they are making a difference.

      Volly Grande ’36 ’65
      A Lifelong Friend for 60 Years

      Call her sharp. Call her entertaining. Call her witty. Call her irrepressible. But whatever you do, hang on. It’s a wild ride in the world of Volly Grande ’36 ’65.

      Scott and Sherith Squire
      A Policy of Giving Back to PLU

      Scott and Sherith Squires’ story started at—and just keeps coming back to—Pacific Lutheran University. They met at PLU and graduated in 1988. He was a Communication major and a football player; she was a Psychology major and a cheerleader.

      Annabelle Birkestol ’45
      Even After Graduation, a Way to Stay Involved—65 Years Later

      When Annabelle Birkestol ’45 was deciding which college to go to, her mother gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse. She told Annabelle to check out Pacific Lutheran University and, if she went there, she would pay for it.

      Marilyn (Force) Knutson
      Marilyn Knutson: Supporting Education and Providing Hospitality at PLU

      David and Marilyn Knutson have always supported Pacific Lutheran University through annual gifts and by hosting PLU guests in their home. Now, Marilyn’s gift through her estate plan will honor her husband’s memory and sponsor a lectureship long into the future.

      Sean Howell '02
      PLU Grad Seeks to Engage Community in Northwest Music Scene

      Sean Howell graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2002, and is using his education in entrepreneurial endeavors. He is also supporting future students by including PLU in his estate plan and endowing a fund to support students and programs.

      Robert Parker
      How Robert Parker Left His Mark on PLU

      Robert Parker would have graduated from PLU in 1944, if World War II hadn’t intervened. Like so many of his peers, Robert was drafted into the war effort and headed to Europe. There, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the U.S. Army.

      Kyle Franklin '07
      Don't Wait to Give

      Kyle Franklin ’07 starting supporting Pacific Lutheran University as a student and continues to give back in the years since graduation. He hopes his story will encourage other alumni to contribute.

      Randy and Brenda Morris
      Ensuring That Transfer Students Can Benefit From Attending PLU

      As a past transfer student, Brenda Morris knows the importance of eventually graduating from a top-notch university like PLU. That is why she has chosen to give back by funding scholarships that will help students who would like to transfer to PLU.

      Contact Information

      Office of Advancement

      Phone: 253-535-7177

      Fax: 253-535-8377

      Email: advancement@plu.edu

      12501 Park Ave S
      Tacoma, WA 98447-0018

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