L e a d e r s h i p t h ro u g h c h a r i ta b l e g i v i n g
Taking the Lead
Spring 2012
“It is inspiring that our alumni are taking the lead.” – President Moulton
50th Anniversary Annual Fund
Campaign Kicks Off
Campaign Progress
As of June 1, 2012
Gifts
GOAL
50,000
CURRENT TOTAL
27,054
USA NAA Memberships
GOAL
5,000
CURRENT TOTAL
5,241
E
xcitement is spreading among the USA family as plans
develop for the many celebrations in honor of the
Ms. Atkins expressed confidence that fellow alumni will
respond generously to the campaign saying, “My USA degree
University’s first half-century of achievement in education,
has meant great things for me in my life. I am proud of it,
service, and health care. In recognition of this milestone, a
and I know my fellow alumni will work with me to support
group of leading alumni have joined forces to build a great
our alma mater.” Dr. Stokes seconded her sentiment adding,
tradition of alumni involvement and support. With their
“The University has meant a lot to me and my wife, Angelia,
help, the University has embarked on its 50th Anniversary
who received her business degree in 1979 while I was in
Annual Fund Campaign, which has been quietly building
medical school.” He reflected on the significance of the 50th
momentum during the past year. The aim of the campaign is
Anniversary as a milestone in the maturity of the University
to involve unprecedented numbers of alumni in both giving
and its alumni saying, “The campaign marks our 50th
to the Anniversary Annual Fund and participating in the
Anniversary as a university and, in a broader sense, shows
National Alumni Association. Goals for the campaign include
that we have grown up as alumni. We are ready to take our
attracting 50,000 gifts and 5,000 members by the close of
rightful role as alumni.”
the 2013 fiscal year.
Led by co-chairs Steven Stokes MD ’80 and Alexis
Want to show support for USA’s 50th Anniversary? Visit
the USA website for online giving, www.southalabama.edu/
Atkins ’97, the 50th Anniversary Annual Fund Leadership
development/MakeaGift to make a gift immediately, or
Council includes more than 70 alumni who have committed
contact Cris Smith at (251) 460-7032 or crsmith@usouthal.
to leadership gifts and to helping encourage fellow alumni to
edu to learn more about helping reach the goal of 50,000
give. Members of the council gathered recently for a press
gifts for the 50th Anniversary.
conference announcing the campaign.
50th Anniversary Annual
Fund Leadership Council
Faculty and Staff Camp
As of June 1, 2012
Mr. R. Alan Alexander
Dr. Ellis S. Allen
Mrs. Gigi Armbrecht
Mrs. Katherine Alexis Atkins
Dr. Joseph Benoit
Mrs. Holle V. Briskman
Mrs. Jacquelyn F. Busta
Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr.
Mr. Vince E. Calametti
Mr. Stephen Erwin Clements
Dr. Jim Connors
Mr. E. Thomas Corcoran
Mr. Edward D. Cornell
Mr. George V. Davis Jr.
Dr. Eric Gardner Delay
Mr. W. Andrew Denny
Mr. Michael Hyde Diehl
Mr. Grady W. (Jody) Dunn
Mrs. Destiny Rhodes Dunn
Ms. Karen W. Edwards
Mr. William James Fulford III
Dr. Steven Furr
Mr. Stanley Keith Hammack
Mr. Patrick E. Hicks
Mrs. Brenda Wood Hinson
Dr. John Lawrence Hinton
Mr. Mark Steven Hoffman
Dr. Michael P. Houston
Mr. Tony A. Hughes
Mrs. Patsy A. Kennedy
Mr. Ray H. Kennedy Jr.
Mrs. Carol N. Kittrell
Mr. Steve Kittrell
Mr. Kenneth C. Kvalheim
Mr. James Mason Lyons
Mr. Julian Bruce MacQueen
Mr. R. Bruce McCrory
Mr. Roddy Lee McKinney
Mr. Christopher Carl Melton
Mr. Reece Jackson (Jay) Miller
Mrs. Rose Pocase Miller
Mrs. Christie Diane Miree
President V. Gordon Moulton
Dr. Kitti Kiattikuniv Outlaw
Dr. Laurie B. Owen
Mr. Allen James Pearl
Mr. John M. Peek
Dr. Robert E. Percy
Dr. Jerry Dean Porter
Ms. Sherrin Anne Puckett
Ms. Patricia Cobb Rodgers
Honorable R. Timothy Russell
Mrs. Jeanne M. Sanderford
Mr. James Shumock
Honorable Kenneth O. Simon
Mr. David C. Singleton
Mr. John C. Sipple
Mrs. Angelia R. Stokes
Dr. Steven Holt Stokes
Mr. Michael C. Thompson
Mrs. Margie Malone Tuckson
Dr. Karyn Wellhousen Tunks
Elizabeth Kelly Tyson
John Malcolm Tyson Jr.
Mr. C. L. (Skipper) Walters Jr.
Mr. Henry Eugene Wells
Mr. David Whiddon
Mr. Douglas Whitmore
Dr. Mark Sloan Williams
Mr. James A. Yance
Dr. Robert J. Zarzour
Jaguar Baseball History Commemorated
No one knows the impact that private gifts can have
on University programs better than faculty and staff
members. As those responsible for executing the
programs, faculty and staff have a unique vantage
point on philanthropy at USA. Through this year’s
Faculty Staff Annual Fund Campaign, the University’s
employees have said that private giving makes a
difference at USA!
During the past decade, USA’s employee giving
campaign has grown steadily to become an
important source of support for many programs.
The campaign has historically achieved high levels of
participation and its donors are generous. However,
goal-setting for this year’s campaign was cautious
due to the economic clima
would be hard to match 20
$567,356 in gifts and match
Following closely on the he
announcement of the 50th
Fund Campaign led by co-c
director of athletics, and O
Women’s hospital administ
Staff Annual Fund Campaig
“Celebrate! Commemorate
surpassed every expectatio
by 120 donors who pledge
(payable over up to five yea
and retirees created a $1,0
Librarian Endows Reference
Area She Helped Establish
USA’s first reference librarian, Vi Harper,
has created an endowment through
a gift to the 2012 Faculty Staff Annual
Fund Campaign that will provide ongoing
support for the reference collection
in the university library. For 24 years,
Ms. Harper guided the development of
this vital resource as senior librarian and
head of the reference area, assisting many
students, faculty and community members
in using the collection as part of their
research. During her tenure, Harper also
served on the Senior Faculty Caucus, and
recalls with pride the work of the caucus
to establish the Children of Employees Scholarship, which continues to
provide support for the families of university employees.
Ms. Harper’s personal involvement in building the reference collection
is still a source of delight. On a recent visit to the reference area, her
pleasure was evident as she pulled a book from the shelf saying, “I picked
this book out!” Her gift will provide for the future of the collection, which
will now be known as the Vi Harper Reference Area.
Loyal Employee
Funds Endowment
Claudnette McGrew, a 30-year employee of
USA Medical Center, where she currently
serves as director of volunteer services,
has been a loyal donor to the Faculty Staff
Annual Fund for many years. In fact, during
this year’s campaign, she agreed to serve as a
spokesperson, lending her name and photo to
a poster series to promote participation.
The Jaguar Baseball Ring of Honor is a place of distinction that honors both
former head coach Steve Kittrell’s unprecedented 28 years at the helm, and the
proud heritage of Jaguar Baseball. The beautifully landscaped rotunda contains
plaques commemorating all head coaches, Sun Belt Championship Teams, NCAA
Regional Teams, All-Americans and Jaguars in the major leagues.
This year, McGrew elevated her support for the University to a new level
by establishing the Louise Austin McGrew Scholarship in Social Work in
honor of her mother and daughter. The poster featuring Ms. McGrew
uses her own words to describe her steadfast commitment to the Faculty
Staff Annual Fund, “I give because I truly believe that we provide a
system of services and resources that enhances the health status of this
community everyday.”
paign Exceeds $1 Million
Want to give back? Get creative!
Some people find that writing a check is the easiest way to give; however,
some USA alumni are finding other creative ways to give back:
Gift of Life Insurance Will Have Big Impact in Future
Doug Whitmore, a 2005 graduate of the Mitchell College of Business, has
recently joined the USA National Alumni Association Board of Directors and
the 50th Anniversary Leadership Council. He has also made a planned gift
through the contribution of a life insurance policy.
Celebrating USA’s 50th Anniversary One Cup at a Time
ate and a feeling that it
011’s accomplishment of
ching funds.
eels of the
h Anniversary Annual
chairs Joel Erdmann,
Owen Bailey, Children’s &
trator, the 2012 Faculty
gn took the theme
e! Participate!” and
on of its success. Led
ed at least $5,000 each
ars), 3,142 USA employees
038,417.07 single-year
impact through their gifts and matching funds. Three
gifts of $30,000 or more were received.
Pleasantly surprised by the campaign’s achievement,
Joseph F. Busta, Jr., vice president for development
and alumni relations, viewed the results as a
bellwether for the overall 50th Anniversary Annual
Fund campaign, “There is no greater endorsement
for an institution than the support of those that
know it best. The financial support of faculty and
staff sends an important message to others in the
community and across the nation about their strong
loyalty and confidence in USA’s progress.”
Professor Emeritus Establishes
Pediatric Lectureship
In his 25-year affiliation with the USA College of Medicine, Dr. Randall
Powell has served in the departments of surgery, pediatrics, and physician
assistant studies. Now, as professor emeritus, he is fulfilling a personal
dream by establishing the Randall W. Powell MD Lectureship in Pediatric
Surgery. The annual lectureship will bring world renowned pediatric
surgeons to the University for presentations that will be open to the public,
as well as students, faculty, and physicians.
Library Art Gallery Named
John Serda is a 1999 graduate of the Mitchell College of Business and owner
of Serda’s Coffee Company, a thriving downtown Mobile establishment
offering a full-service café to complement his coffee selection from around
the world. Mr. Serda has expressed his pride in his alma mater by creating
the “50th Anniversary Blend,” a Mobile-roasted coffee blend in honor of
USA’s 50th Anniversary. He has also committed a portion of the proceeds
from the sale of this coffee blend to the Anniversary Annual Fund and the
USA National Alumni Association. Every pound of the blend sold will push
USA closer to the goal of 50,000 gifts.
John Serda ’99 and South Paw introduce Serda’s “50th Anniversary Blend,” which
was created to help support the USA Annual Fund.
For full stories, visit our Annual Fund website at
www.usouthal.edu/development
Shelby Hall Namings Support
Academic Excellence
As the September 2012 dedication nears for Shelby Hall Engineering and
Computing, alumni and friends are creating vibrant new resources to support
the academic programs that will reside in the new state-of-the-art facility. A
fundraising campaign to name spaces in Shelby Hall has established Excellence
Endowments for the College of Engineering and the School of Computing.
These endowments will ensure that the respective deans will have a perpetual
source of funds to direct toward priority needs. Qualifying gifts to the
Excellence Endowments will be recognized with a plaque in each named area.
Recently named spaces include:
• the main lobby by the USA
Foundation
• the engineering student council
gathering room by the AT&T
Foundation
• individual faculty offices by
Dr. J. Todd, Dr. Harold Pardue,
and FMS Engineering
• a student design studio by
Angela Dunn, in honor of her
husband, Matt Dunn
During the 2012 Faculty Staff Annual Fund Campaign, Charles and Mary
Rodning generously created an endowment to support the art gallery at
the university library. Dr. Charles Rodning serves as professor of surgery
in the College of Medicine.
• a coordinator’s office by Alleen
and Les Barnett
• the dean’s administration suite
by Linda Coker Yasinsac, in
honor of her husband, Dean Alec
Yasinsac.
• an administration office by
Volkert Inc.
Visit www.southalabama.edu/shelbyhall to view the live web cam and learn
more about Shelby Hall and its naming opportunities.
Previously, Dr. Rodning served as Commander, Medical Corps, in the U.S.
Navy. During his naval service, the Rodnings and their children lived in
Okinawa, Japan, where they studied a number of Asian aesthetic arts,
including ikebana, bonsai, origami, haiku, and sumi-e, an ancient form
of ink brush painting. Mary Rodning has studied with master sumi-e
artists, has won awards for her own work, and teaches sumi-e in Mobile.
Dr. Charles Rodning has pursued Japanese forms of poetry, including
haiku and senryu and has authored several collections of poetry,
paintings, and photographs.
In recognition of the Rodning’s contributions to the arts, service to the
community and their generosity, the gallery in the university library
will now be known as the Mary Elizabeth and Charles Bernard Rodning
Gallery of Art.
Check presentation by the AT&T Foundation to name the Engineering Student
Council Gathering Room in Shelby Hall. Pictured (left to right) are Dr. John
Steadman, dean of the College of Engineering, Gigi Armbrecht, regional directorAT&T Alabama, and Lee Weldon, development specialist, Office of Development.
L e a d e r s h i p t h ro u g h c h a r i ta b l e g i v i n g
Taking the Lead
A PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
Save these
50th Anniversary
Celebration Dates
University of South Alabama
Office of Development
650 Clinic Dr., Ste. 2150
Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mobile, AL
Permit No. 506
• September 9, 2012
Grand Opening of Shelby Hall
• October 20, 2012
Homecoming
• May 3, 2013
50th Anniversary Campus
Celebration
To keep up with USA events,
visit our Campus Calendar at
http://www.southalabama.edu/
usacal/campuscalendar/
The celebration begins here…
September 9, 2012