The campaign is seeking $20 million in contributions in five different areas to ensure IPFW’s growth. Specifically, those areas are: facilities, scholarships, faculty, programs and unrestricted use.

To help get the campaign launched, a week-long series of events was held in various locations on campus.

On May 27, the need for student and faculty support was highlighted at a news conference held in the Fireside Lounge of the Walb Student Union.

“Students and faculty are the most important aspects of the IPFW campus,” said Chancellor Michael Wartell. “And we want to offer the broadest possible opportunities for students and attract the best faculty to be part of the IPFW family.”

Wartell announced several scholarships made possible by gifts to IPFW and the establishment of an endowed chair. Those were:

• the lone Auer Arts Scholarship Endowment Fund;

• the Waterfield Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Visual and Performing Arts;

• the Elizabeth Friedel Men’s Volleyball Scholarship;

• the Ron Venderly Education Scholarships for Education;

• the Arthur Friedel Scholarships for Chemistry students; and

• the Chapman Distinguished Professor of English Chair.

The next day, history was made on the IPFW campus with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Waterfield Campus Student Housing project. Wartell told those gathered at the construction site that they were witnesses to a momentous occasion:

“We have been looking forward to this day for a long time, and now, it’s finally here,” he said. “In 2004, 568 students will be able to move into one-, two- or four-bedroom apartments spread among seven residential apartment-style buildings.” (See related story. next page)

The $27-million project was made possible through the efforts of many people, including lawmakers, university officials and the more than $3 million in gift funds donated by IPFW supporters.

On May 29, academic and educational outreach programs were featured at another media event. It was there that Wartell announced IPFW had been chosen to receive a new $220,000 grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Education for the Upward Bound program.

The purpose of the program is to give 50 high school students an enriched academic experience and to expose them to college and university life so they will go on to complete a baccalaureate degree.

A number of area businesses were recognized for their generous support of educational outreach programs at the School of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science; and the School of Business and Management Sciences. Some of these donations were for specific programs, such as the First Lego League and Future Cities Tournaments, held at IPFW for middle school students every year; other donations are made in the form of computer software; and still others provide funds to allow students to study business practices in other countries. Some of the donors for these varied programs include Franklin Electric, ITT, Raytheon, Applied Wave Research, Bill Lawson and Mimi and Ian Roland.

On May 30, IPFW celebrated the generosity of its donors and the foresight of area lawmakers for efforts to expand the “bricks and mortar,” the buildings that make up the physical presence of IPFW.

During the 2002 Indiana General Assembly, IPFW received $33 million in bonding authority for new buildings, a $10-million investment in a fiber optic system to link the major college campuses across the state, and $6.5 million for the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, of which $1.5 million is for operating expenses. IPFW will soon see two new buildings: one for music programs, the other for health sciences programs.

“Discover IPFW” week wrapped up in style with a gala dinner in the ballroom of the Walb Student Union. It was there that many of IPFW’s donors were again recognized and personally thanked for their generosity.

While the week of “Discover IPFW” is now a springtime memory, the theme and its goal is an ongoing priority.

And there will always be something new to discover on the IPFW campus.