To mark the first anniversary of the public launch of its historic capital campaign, Wayne First: The Campaign for Wayne State University, and to celebrate the success of the campaign to date, Wayne State University will hold a celebration on Thursday, May 25, 3-5:30 p.m., in the courtyard next to the Towers Residential Suites on campus.

Wayne State President Irvin D. Reid will update attendees on progress of the campaign, which has raised $320 million toward a $500 million goal. He also will acknowledge benefactors who have stepped forward with significant gifts during the past year.

“This is a celebration of the momentum that has been bringing the Wayne First campaign so much success,” Reid said. “It is an opportunity to recognize publicly some particularly generous donors, including Marvin Danto, A. Alfred Taubman and the Kresge Foundation, each of whom has committed $3 million. To date, 40 donors have made commitments of a million dollars or more to the campaign. With the kind of enthusiasm demonstrated by the WSU community, alumni and friends, I am confident that we can exceed our goal of $500 million by 2009.”

Funds raised through Wayne First will help support scholarships, research, faculty endowments and student programs, as well as new construction and improvements to existing structures.

“We are gratified that this largest fund-raising undertaking in the university’s history is making remarkable progress across the board,” said Susan Burns, vice president for development and alumni affairs. “This is particularly significant given the challenging economic climate in Michigan during recent years. Another considerable achievement is that more than 2,300 Wayne State faculty and staff members have supported the campaign with donations totaling more than $8 million. This shows an extraordinary level of commitment that will help us achieve our goal.”

Among key components of the campaign is support for scholarships, which are important in attracting high-achieving students, regardless of their financial circumstances. In support of this goal, several benefactors have contributed $1 million or more to scholarships that benefit students from the city of Detroit, including Wayne Dyer, popular author, lecturer and Wayne State alumnus; attorney Michael Timmis and wife Nancy, who also are Wayne State alumni; the Howard Baker Foundation, administered by his daughter Michele Baker; and the Thompson Foundation.

The May 25 celebration will feature special exhibits focusing on the following areas:

• Construction Zone: This area will feature information about planned new buildings, recent construction and renovations. Featured new construction includes:
o The new home of the School of Business Administration
o Marvin Danto Engineering Development Center
o Damon J. Keith Classroom Building and Center for Civil Rights
o The Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons

• Research Roundtable: Several faculty members will display and discuss some of Wayne State’s significant research projects and their real-life applications.

• Scholarship Circle: Several Wayne State students attending on scholarships will present research projects selected from those displayed recently at the Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum. In a brief program, Provost Nancy Barrett will award Presidential scholarships, named scholarships administered by the Honors Program, and select school and college scholarships for the coming academic year.

• Faculty/Staff Campaign: Wayne State’s Faculty/Staff Campaign, a cornerstone of the overall campaign, will have its own exhibit area.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, federal Judge Damon J. Keith and businessman/philanthropist Marvin Danto are scheduled for remarks during the program. Veteran TV news anchor Amyre Makupson will be the emcee. Also on hand for the occasion will be the Wayne State Pep Band. An unusual stage show will feature artist Brian Olsen, who uses his fingertips, elbows, palms and brushes to paint on a 4X6-foot canvas, all choreographed to music. The Wayne State Police Department’s experimental fuel cell vehicle, developed by DaimlerChrysler, will be on display.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.


Note: For background information on the Wayne First capital campaign, visit http://waynefirst.wayne.edu/media_kit.php

Contact: Cheryl Yurkovich or Tom Sakely at 313-577-2150.
e-mail: cyurkovich@dmac.wayne.edu or t.sakely@wayne.edu