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Spring 2021
Into IU's Third Century

Into IU's Third Century

IU South Bend donors show strong support for campus' mission in Bicentennial Campaign

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The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign raised nearly $3.9 billion with IU South Bend’s contribution of almost $32 million over eight years, showing strong donor support for IU South Bend’s mission.

“The gifts provided high-impact dollars that can be used immediately to support important initiatives at IU South Bend,” said Interim Vice Chancellor for University Relations Tom Stevick.

The Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences and the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics were both named during the Bicentennial Campaign with gifts totaling over $12 million. The naming gifts to the college and the school provide enhanced resources for students and faculty, including significant scholarship support for students. The Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences gift also created and endowed the Bicentennial Distinguished Chair of Palliative Care, held by Dr. Bunmi Okanlami, and the Distinguished Chair of Nursing. In addition, it also provided funds to create the recently approved Palliative and Supportive Care Minor.

“This act of generosity has elevated the Dwyer College of Health Sciences, allowing us to attract outstanding faculty and students in healthcare, to expand our graduate programs, and to educate our students and other healthcare providers about best practices in palliative care for those with chronic diseases,” said Dwyer College Dean Thomas Fisher.

Likewise, a generous naming gift from the Judd Leighton Foundation to the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics significantly enhanced scholarship support for undergraduate students and fellowships for graduate students. In addition to student support, the gift provides funds for faculty teaching and research activities.

The gift also provided funds to add two staff positions: a retention specialist to develop and coordinate freshmanyear programming to improve student persistence and graduation rates, as well as an experiential learning coordinator to assist students with career development, internships, co-ops, field projects, and service learning opportunities.

"We truly are deeply grateful for this extraordinarily generous gift and for the transformative impact it has had on the IU South Bend Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics and all of its students,” said Interim Dean Tracey Anderson. “This generous gift supports the Leighton School, creating opportunities that lead to student success in their education and future lives."

Other named gifts during this campaign enhanced campus facilities and student learning and instructional spaces, including:

Hammes Bookstore
Louise E. Addicott and Yatish J. Joshi Performance Hall
Schurz Creative Lab
Torres Family Data Analytics Lab
Pfeil Field, home to IU South Bend’s woman’s softball team
Elkhart Center in partnership with the
Community Foundation of Elkhart

A variety of other philanthropic gifts have improved instructional space, provided funds for student groups and athletics, and aided faculty development efforts.

Outstanding faculty and staff support

In a tremendous show of support for IU South Bend’s mission, current and former faculty and staff contributed almost $1.8 million to ensure student success.

Associate Librarian Emerita Ellen Maher chose to support a scholarship for students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the School of Education. She wanted to support the community she called home for more than half her life. “I honestly love IU South Bend,” she said, “and the students it serves in the community.”

Significantly increased student support

Through the campaign, donors created 85 new scholarships for students at IU South Bend, providing almost $2 million more in scholarship resources for students (read some of their stories on the next page). “During the campaign, the President’s Office provided a match for endowed scholarships, which created a lot of incentive to our donors,” said Dina Harris, director of development.

In fact, after learning Indiana University would provide a match for newly created scholarship endowments, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Lawrence Garber and his wife Carolyn decided to increase their gift the first year so it would qualify for the match.

To date, five students have benefited from the Carolyn and Lawrence Garber Summer Research Scholarship—a scholarship that provides a stipend to students for undergraduate summer research with Indiana University faculty. “This year’s scholarship went to a very bright student who is an immigrant from Yemen,” said Garber. “Two recipients are now in graduate school. And one recipient’s research, which she started as a summer research scholar, was published. She and her faculty mentor were co-authors.”

“The generosity of our donors, current and former faculty and staff, and local foundations during the Bicentennial Campaign is helping us fulfill the mission of IU South Bend, enhancing our facilities and programs and supporting students with scholarship resources, so more students can take full advantage of all IU South Bend has to offer,” said Chancellor Susan Elrod. “In turn, they will prosper in their careers and make significant contributions in their communities.”

For all by the numbers. IU South Bend's contribution to the largest campaign in IU's history. TOTAL RAISED $32 million. Scholarships $7.7 million. Planned gifts $2.1 million. Raised from current and former faculty and staff $1.8 million.

Mya Perry, Senior, Secondary Education

Mya Perry, a senior majoring in secondary education, was working as a bartender while pursuing her undergraduate degree. When she was awarded the Richmond and Virginia Calvin Underrepresented Teachers Scholarship her junior year, she was able to reduce the amount of hours she worked to two days a week. “It provided more financial stability, so I was able to work less and focus on my studies,” she explained. “Because of that I was able to make the dean’s list.” When the coronavirus pandemic closed bars and restaurants, she lost her job. “It was a real lifesaver to have that cushion,” she added.

A study abroad scholarship also made it possible for her to take advantage of an opportunity to study in Belize, she said.

This semester, Perry is student teaching at her alma mater, Adams High School. She’s teaching on a hybrid schedule because of the pandemic. “I have to prepare lessons for both on line and in-person instruction,” she explained. “It would have been very difficult to work and student teach,” she said.

Perry is looking forward to teaching social studies in high school next year. She’s completed her licensing exams and plans to stay in Indiana. “I’d like to teach historical perspectives, sociology, and U.S. history at the high school level,” she said.

Perry’s scholarship support not only offered her peace of mind, but it made it possible for her to take full advantage of her college experience. “I love IU South Bend,” she said. “People don’t realize how many opportunities there are at IU South Bend.”

Brooke Lauten, Senior, Healthcare Management

Like many IU South Bend students, Brooke Lauten, a senior majoring in healthcare management, worked while she pursued her degree. She started as an accounting major but later changed to healthcare management. “I wanted to work in a field where I could help people,” she said.

A graduate of Jimtown High School, Lauten chose IU South Bend because it was close to home. “I could work and go to school and get a good degree,” she explained.

Last fall, Lauten was awarded the Douglas Leonard Business Scholarship. It made a world of difference, she explained. Recently married, she and her husband also brought her disabled mother into their home to live with them. “It allowed me to continue to go to school and take care of my mother,” she said.

She’s looking forward to working in healthcare management after graduation and she’s grateful for the scholarship that made it possible to care for her mother while she finished her degree.

Eric Yankosky, Junior, Nursing

“It made my day,” said nursing student Eric Yankosky, when he learned he had been awarded the Vera Z. Dwyer Nursing Scholarship.

During his freshman and sophomore years he commuted to IU South Bend from Syracuse—an hour commute each way. “The commute often left me mentally exhausted,” he explained. “The scholarship allows me to live more comfortably on campus.” With more time to study, his grades went up, too, he added.

Yankosky’s interest in nursing began with a trip to the urgent care center when he was younger. “It wasn’t an emergency situation, so I was intrigued by the care I was receiving and asked questions about what they were doing.” As a student at Wawasee High School, he took science classes to learn more about the uniqueness of the human body, he explained.

After graduating from high school, he followed in the footsteps of his two siblings and enrolled at IU South Bend. “I chose IU South Bend because it was affordable and it has a fantastic nursing program,” Yankosky said.

This semester, he began his clinical rotations. He’s currently doing a psychiatric rotation at Epworth Hospital. “I’m really enjoying the experience,” he said. “My clinical instructor is so helpful.”

Living on campus he is able to take advantage of many opportunities, including Titan Productions and the IU South Bend Health and Wellness Center, where he works as a work-study nursing student.

When he graduates, he hopes to stay in the area and work as a nurse in cardiac or surgical care. In the meantime, thanks to the scholarship he’s enjoying being able to live on campus and take advantage of all that IU South Bend offers.

Into IU's Third Century