Fellows Day 2007

Members of The Fellows Organization traditionally hold their annual dinner and business meeting after attending the first home football game of the season. This year was no exception. But the mood was much more celebratory last Saturday, as Fellows members shared in the joy of the football team’s first win in four years.

The football victory set the stage for a celebration of the achievements of The Fellows Organization, the premier giving society at the college. Founded in 1950 by Dr. Edson J. Brown, the organization recognizes the importance of annual unrestricted giving to the colleges. Currently, there are 1,703 Fellows, with 113 new members joining in the past year. Total giving for the past fiscal year was $591,000, bringing the total over the organization’s 56 years to nearly $10 million.

Another milestone the Fellows celebrated was the achievement of the college’s annual fund-raising goal, $1.3 million contributed to the Heidelberg Fund. “This success reinforces the vision of Heidelberg,” said Rita Locke, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “You are our closest friends.”

Fellows heard remarks from student Allison Galbari, class of 2010, who represented students who are recipients of scholarships funded in part by Fellows contributions. She shared with the Fellows her experiences this summer as part of an undergraduate research program through Indiana University-Purdue University, an archaeological project north of Indianapolis. Through the project, students learned how to use the latest technology in archaeology, excavating an area that was the “frontier” for the Native American groups, the Fort Ancient, the Oneota and the Western Basin, over 2,000 years ago.

“If it had not been for the education and experiences afforded to me by Heidelberg College in both leadership and archaeological settings, I would not have had this honor (of being selected to participate in the IU-PU project) and if not for the financial aid awarded to me (through) the Fellows, I would not have been able to attend this college,” Galbari told the group.

Fellows also heard from incoming president, Paul Assenheimer, class of 1960, who said his reason for accepting this office represented “an opportunity for me to give back.”

“My roots to Heidelberg go even deeper than my college experience,” he said, noting that his father was on the music faculty.

Secondly, Assenheimer said, he believes in the leadership President Dottavio has brought to Heidelberg and in the direction the college is headed. “I see so many good things happening on the horizon.”

He noted that the college’s needs are significant in the coming years, and he encouraged the Fellows to consider increasing their donations to the college and in bringing new members into the fold.

“What a difference that would make,” he said.

 
Posted 9-13-2007