RISE Campaign

$85,533 Romanaggi Gift to RISE

January 20, 2014

The University has received a RISE Campaign donation of $85,533 from Don Romanaggi, M.D., an alumnus and longtime supporter of the University. His gift benefits student scholarships at the University, upgrades to Don V. Romanaggi M.D. Hall, and enhancements of Joe Etzel Field. Romanaggi graduated from UP in 1956 and then earned his medical degree in 1960 from Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine. His medical practice in Portland specialized in treatment of allergy, asthma, and immunology. In 1997, he retired from active practice after 31 years. While practicing medicine, he also was an associate professor of the volunteer teaching faculty at Oregon Health Sciences University.

Romanaggi and his late wife Agnes, a 1959 UP graduate, have been generous to the University over the years. They were the major donors to the Old Science Hall that in November 2010 was renamed Romanaggi Hall. The gift helped fund new windows throughout, renovation of the third floor, roof improvements, and the first thorough cleaning of its masonry in seventy years. The Romanaggis, who were married for almost 50 years, also made an estate planning gift to provide continued maintenance of the building. They are the originators and major contributors to the Rev. John Molter, C.S.C. Endowed Chair in Science. The gift honored the professor from whom he once earned a dollar. Molter had promised a dollar to any student who got an A in his science class, and those were rare dollars indeed. They also established and funded the Romanaggi Endowed Scholarship in Pre-Med and the Rev. Gregory Lombardo, C.S.C. Scholarship in Religion. After Agnes’ passing in 2008, Romanaggi funded the Agnes M. Romanaggi Environmental Lab in Donald Shiley Hall.

Romanaggi’s gift is part of the RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The campaign has raised more than $168 million to date and is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information contact development at 7395 or hanna@up.edu.

601 Challenge Benefits New Recreation Center

January 13, 2014

University regent and alumnus Rich Baek is challenging young alumni to help raise funds for the University’s proposed Recreation & Wellness Center, set to break ground in May 2014. Baek will make a gift of $50,000 to the center if 601 GOLD alumni (Graduates Of the Last Decade) donate to the University by June 1, 2014. The 601 figure highlights the deadline (6/01) of the challenge. More information about the 601- GOLD Challenge can be found at www.up.edu/601.

The new center will be named in honor of University president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., who has announced he will step down as president at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. Set for completion in May 2015, the Beauchamp Center will reside on what is now a parking lot at the corner of North Portsmouth and Strong avenues. Currently a total of $20.5 million has been raised for the center, estimated to cost $23 million. Renderings of the building can be found at http://tinyurl.com/kurlp7z.

As of mid-December, the total number of young alumni who have responded to Baek’s challenge is 375, representing 62 percent of the goal and totaling more than $49,000 in gifts, according to Leanne Goolsby, associate director of annual giving.

Baek is a 1993 (master’s in engineering) and 2002 (MBA) graduate of University of Portland. He is the founder and chairman of the VTM Group, one of the “100 best companies to work for” according to Oregon Business Magazine. He has been named Oregon Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration and has been named one of the “Forty under 40” by the Portland Business Journal. For more information contact the development office at 7395 or hanna@up.edu.

New Wellness Center To Honor Fr. Beauchamp

December 16, 2013

A new Recreation & Wellness Center, set to break ground in May 2014, will be named in recognition of University of Portland president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. The announcement was made during the University’s annual Christmas gala on Friday, December 13.

Earlier this year, Fr. Beauchamp announced he is stepping down as president at the end of the 2013-14 academic year. The University’s president since 2003, he has been a strong supporter of the new center, expected to be completed by May, 2015. The Beauchamp Center will be located on what is now a parking lot at the corner of North Portsmouth and Strong avenues.

The Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center is estimated to cost $23 million, with $20 million raised as of today. The building is expected to become a dynamic focal point on campus, and enhance the physical and mental health of students, faculty, and staff. Designs call for a new, modern facility, which will feature state-of-the-art equipment and space to accommodate the growing University community.

Gifts made to the Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center are included in the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $165 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university.

The San Francisco office of 360 Architecture and Portland-based Soderstrom Architects are finalizing the design of the building. Renderings of the proposed building can be found at this link.

Proposed rooms for the building include the Fitness Center with cardio machines, strength and free-weight stations, and areas for health and wellness testing and counseling. The gymnasium will include three courts for basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey. An indoor track will be suspended above the gym and will hold three lanes for walking and jogging, as well as pace clocks and stretching areas. The new Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center will also have two exercise studios, a spinning studio, an Outdoor Pursuits Center, and a 32-foot rock-climbing wall.

For more information contact the development office at 7395 or webmaster@up.edu.

New RISE Gifts for Library

October 25, 2013

University of Portland has announced recent RISE Campaign gifts totaling $52,500 to help complete renovation of the Clark Library.

The recent library gifts included $25,000 from board of regents member Jim Murphy, ’91, executive vice president–international for Costco Wholesale.Three Portland-area foundations also contributed to the library renovation, including a $10,000 gift from the Autzen Foundation; $10,000 from Juan Young Trust; and $7,500 from Jackson Foundation.

The Clark Library’s renovation and rebuilding project, which cost an estimated $12.1 million, began in May 2012 and was opened to students and faculty in August. Many foundations and individuals have given generously to the renovation, including the family of Maurie Clark, a major benefactor for the original library, built in 1958 and named in honor of his father, Wilson W. Clark, in 1972. For more information contact the development office at 7395.

$2.2M Aquino Gift, Professorship

October 14, 2013

The development office has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $2.2 million to create the Margaret M. and Vincent P. Aquino Endowed Professorship in Engineering, dedicated to undergraduate classroom instruction in the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering. The fund was established by the late Vincent Aquino, who graduated from the University of Portland in 1957, in honor of his parents, neither of whom attended college but were determined to help their children do so. Vincent Aquino passed away in July, 2013. He spent most of his career at Argonne National Labs, where he served as director of quality assurance.

The faculty member who will receive the endowed professorship will be announced at the Faculty Awards Gala in May. The gift is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $163 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information, contact the development office at 7395.

$100,000 RISE Campaign Gift

September 13, 2013

The development office has announced a $100,000 RISE Campaign gift from Debra A. and John D. Burns to establish the Dolores Casciato Lomax Endowed Scholarship, which will honor Debra’s mother, who passed away in 2012. The scholarship is for full-time students who are enrolled in the School of Education and demonstrate financial need. Dolores “Dolly” Casciato (pictured) was born in 1934 to one of Portland’s pioneer Italian families, and attended the University of Portland before marrying Gary Lomax upon his return from the Korean War.

The gift is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $162 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information contact development at 7395.

$150,000 RISE Gift

August 26, 2013

The development office has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $150,000 from Tom and Mary Herche, of Seattle, whose son Charlie ’09 played baseball for the Pilots. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Portland athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrade includes installing artificial turf, stadium lights, and outfield/perimeter fencing. Pending continued fundraising progress, the athletic department would like to begin construction on the first phase as early as the conclusion of the 2014 season with other phases to follow in subsequent years.

The Herche family gift is part of the RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $162 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information go to http://rise.up.edu/ or contact the development office at 7395.

RISE Campaign Library Gifts

August 2, 2013

The development office has announced recent RISE Campaign gifts totaling $118,500 to help renovate the Clark Library, where a dedication ceremony for the general public is set for September 27. The recent library gifts were from Eugene and Janet Wizer, who gave $25,000; Cisco Systems, $19,000; Chris and Kimra Corrado, $15,000; Soderstrom Architects, $22,000; Todd Construction, $10,000; the Rose E. Tucker Charitable Foundation, $10,000; the estate of David Walter, $10,000; and the Jackson Foundation, $7,500. Eugene Wizer graduated from UP in 1960, Chris Corrado in 1982, and David Walter in 1958.

The library renovation and rebuilding project began in May 2012 and is expected to cost an estimated $12.5 million. Designs called for a new, modern library on the basic root structure of the old. The library was closed during the 2012-2013 academic year, and is set to reopen in August 2013. Library services were offered during the interim year.

The renovated library will help facilitate new tools and resources for the University’s students. While maintaining a similar infrastructure, many aspects of the library have changed from the renovation. The new library entrance faces the Academic Quad, and the building will be open for students 24 hours a day.

The reopening of the Clark Library is set for August 12. The library staff is busy moving into the building and adjusting to the new features. The usual online resources are available, as well as interlibrary loan (ILL) service for article requests. For more information contact the library at 7111 or library@up.edu, or go to http://library.up.edu.

A public event celebrating the reopening and dedication of Clark Library is set for 2-5 p.m., on Friday, September 27. The gifts are part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $161 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university.

$960,000 RISE Nursing Grant

July 15, 2013

The School of Nursing has been awarded $960,000 by the Helene Fuld Health Trust to establish scholarships for bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) students who have a prior bachelor’s degree in another field. The University of Portland is one of six schools nationwide to receive funding for second degree baccalaureate students in nursing from The Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship Fund. The grant will be paid in three installments over a four-year period, with half of the funds for annual scholarships, the first to be awarded fall 2013. The other half will create an endowment, with the first scholarships awarded in the 2016-17 academic year.

The award and the partnership with the Helene Fuld Health Trust encourages students with a prior degree, and often more life experience than the traditional student out of high school, to enter nursing. Financial issues are often the biggest barrier for students transferring to the University of Portland to complete an additional bachelor’s degree, according to UP nursing dean Joanne Warner. “This partnership supports the School of Nursing’s priority on increasing the diversity of the nursing work force, including gender, ethnicity and non-traditional students” says Warner.

The Helene Fuld Health Trust’s mission is to support and promote the health, welfare, and education of student nurses and is the nation’s largest private funder devoted exclusively to nursing students and nursing education. The School of Nursing received a previous grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust in 2006, a $550,000 grant to establish scholarships for undergraduate nursing students.

The $960,000 grant is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $161 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information contact the School of Nursing at 7211 or development at 7395.

$1.5 Million RISE Education Grant

July 1, 2013

The Portland-based Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and the University of Portland have announced a grant of $1.5 million by NWEA to the School of Education to establish the Multnomah County Partnership on Education Research. The partnership will support research that informs educators and policy makers on issues related to best practices that enhance student learning and improve teacher practice.

The partnership will engage with local school systems in research projects to support research-based and data driven decision making on their implemented models of educational change. The partnership will bring together local schools, NWEA researchers, and University of Portland education faculty and doctoral students to conduct research in the areas of educational outcomes and best practices. The grant will support these efforts with $250,000 per year for six years, for a total of $1.5 million. The partnership has the following goals:

Enhancing student learning for the nearly 84,000 students enrolled in Multnomah county public, private and parochial schools;
Establishing the University of Portland School of Education at the forefront of education research;
Securing Portland’s identity as a center of excellence in educational research.

The University of Portland’s School of Education, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala reception and dinner on June 27, has graduated more than 7,500 teachers since 1962. Education students annually serve more than 140,000 hours in schools in the local community.

The NWEA grant is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $161 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information contact the development office at 7395.