Summer 2003

Development Update

LANDSBAUM GIFT TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

  A $934,878 gift from the estate of the late Morris Landsbaum of Terre Haute has established the Landsbaum Scholars Fund to benefit Rose-Hulman students.  The fund will award scholarships on an annual basis with a priority given to students from Vigo County. 

        The number of scholarships to be awarded annually will be determined by the number of applicants and the revenue generated by the fund, according to David Haynes, Rose-Hulman director of planned giving.

         Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert said the gift from Landsbaum is significant because increasing scholarships to deserving students is one of the college's top fund-raising priorities.

         “Finding resources to provide additional scholarships to deserving students is one of our biggest challenges,” Hulbert said.   “Morris Landsbaum's support is a significant gift for the college and future students.  It illustrates his willingness to give back to his community and support education in Terre Haute.”  

         During a successful career in commercial real estate development, Landsbaum managed the creation of shopping centers, restaurants and a variety of other large and small real estate projects. His first major gift to Rose-Hulman was a donation of real estate in 1996.

          In 1997, Rose-Hulman presented Landsbaum with an honorary doctor of human letters during commencement ceremonies.

         “I first met Morris in 1978,” remarked his attorney and 1974 Rose-Hulman alumnus Bill Olah of the Wilkinson, Goeller, Modesitt, Wilkinson and Drummy law firm in Terre Haute.  “He believed we could never do too much to nurture and encourage young people to succeed, no matter what their field of endeavor.”

         “Morris steadfastly believed that while life's experiences alone could teach a person a great deal, it was a formal education that would open doors and provided more opportunities than would otherwise be available,” Olah noted.  “Morris' will bequests to create and endow the scholarships merely manifest how deeply rooted that belief actually was.”

         A lifelong resident of Terre Haute, Landsbaum supported educational and medical services in his hometown.  He served on the boards of directors of Terre Haute Regional Hospital, the Terre Haute Center for Medical Education and Union Hospital.

ALUMNI PLAY VITAL ROLE THROUGH TIME AND TALENT

As an alumnus I have always been impressed (and somewhat boastful) about the strong support Rose-Hulman alumni provide to their alma mater.  We receive tremendous financial assistance from our graduates.  Our alumni giving rate of 42 percent puts Rose-Hulman among the tops in the nation.  Not too many schools can claim such a loyal alumni body.  While the financial giving is important, my time on the Board of Trustees has provided me with a deeper understanding the various other ways alumni can play a role in the life of their college.  It’s not all about money.

Time and talent are other major ways alumni can give back to the college.  From assisting with job placement to recruiting freshmen to serving on the Homecoming committee, there are numerous places alumni can plug in and help Rose-Hulman.  To keep Rose-Hulman at the forefront of engineering, science and mathematics education requires all of us to lend a hand.  It requires some time and effort, but not only will  Rose-Hulman benefit…so will you.  There is a great reward of personal satisfaction in playing a role in the developing of our future engineers and scientists.

I provide the following list as examples of areas where you can play a role. 

• Mentoring – Alumni all have experience they can share with a current student.  As a mentor, you are teamed with a student so you can provide advice on careers and what the real working world is like.  You also can inform them of all the good options their degree can provide such as management opportunities, entrée to graduate school, starting their own business or as a stepping stone to another profession such as medicine or law.  Mentors are not required to promise job…just guidance.  Our Student Alumni Association has tackled mentoring as one of its major projects.  Alumni mentoring is sought by our students and we need to be there for them.
   

• RARE – This acronym stands for Rose Alumni Recruiting Engineers.  Working with the admissions office, alumni represent the college at various events targeted at recruiting students to attend Rose-Hulman.  This gives our admissions effort an edge.  RARE volunteers attend college fairs, and contact admitted students through letters, e-mails and phone calls.  Prospective students like to hear from those who have actually graduated from the college, and moms and dads get to see our graduates leading successful lives.
   

• Student Projects – A major academic emphasis for Rose-Hulman is the real-world student project.  Our students learn engineering by doing engineering.  A real-world project is an important part of that learning process.  If you or your company has a project that could be solved by one of our student teams, let the college know.  Not only will your company benefit, so will the students who learn about deadlines, resource limitations and the joy of seeing a concept become reality.
   

• Classroom Lectures – Our faculty are excellent teachers and realize that students learn much from those who have “been there and done that.”  Alumni speaking to classes about their fields of practice provide an invaluable educational resource for faculty and students.
   

• Career Recruiting – Alumni already are strong in this area, but I list it as a reminder.  You can be a real asset to Rose-Hulman by helping place our graduating seniors.  Maybe you can arrange for a recruiting visit by your company to campus, or you know of an opening for an entry-level engineer with your company.  Alumni already dominate our Career Fair and recruiter visit schedules, but we cannot have too many alumni carrying the placement banner for us.  The ability of our students to obtain employment in their fields of study upon graduation is an important drawing card for prospective students and it makes for happy alumni as well.
   

• Meeting and Greeting – Social events hosted by alumni can help play a role in the advancement of the college.  When new alumni take jobs in your area, you can host a reception to welcome them to the area. In the same way, some alumni have volunteered to host send-off parties for freshmen from their hometowns.  Having some familiarity with alumni and fellow freshman can take some of the edge off of making the major life transition from high school to college.  It’s a great way to introduce students and their families to the Rose-Hulman family.
   

• Advisory Board – The Alumni Association continually seeks volunteers to serve on the Alumni Advisory Board.  There are several subcommittees that need chairs and members to carry out the mission of the association.  Areas include homecoming, continuing education, alumni clubs, career services, student recruitment, young alumni, and awards and recognition.
   

• Networking –As the alumni ranks continue to grow, so do networking opportunities across the country.  Networking can be of great value to the college and alumni. 

As you can see, there are many ways to help.  Philanthropic support is important, and we need those checks to keep coming, but we also need your time and talent.  If you have questions, get in contact with me or with Alumni Director Brian Dyer at 812-877-8359 or via e-mail at brian.dyer@rose-hulman.edu.  Together we can make a great college even better.