The Parker Alumni Association became the first donor to the newly renamed Parker University when the association presented a $5,000 check during a recent board of trustees meeting on campus. Dr. Vincent Scheffler, president of the Parker Alumni Association, presented the check to Mr. Bill Nardiello, chairman of the Parker University Board of Trustees and Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker University, on behalf of its members.
The donation was given to the President's Circle Giving Club, the highest giving level at the university.
"This donation is made on behalf of our members and all graduates who were given a voice during this historic transition to university status," said Dr. Scheffler.
"It was only natural for us to include our alumni during the planning stages of becoming a university because we greatly value their opinions," said Dr. Mancini. "We wanted to know what they thought, so it was tremendously important to involve them."
Dr. Scheffler explained that the association was approached numerous times by the institution's administration for feedback on the university name change. "We appreciate the administration's request to hear from our members and the 6,000 graduates who have made this period of expansion possible," said Dr. Scheffler. "Without these individuals, Parker would not be ready to move to university status at such a young age in the institution's history."
For the fourth consecutive year, the Parker Alumni Association has been a member of the President's Circle Giving Club, the highest giving level at the university.
"Contributions at the President's Circle level provide unrestricted funds to be used at the president's discretion to support the highest priorities of the university, determined by the board of trustees," said JoLynne Jensen, vice president of development of Parker University. "These funds can support the creation of a new program or provide the margin of excellence to take a program from good to great."
Source: Parker University
