In their own words:
Donors, recipients tell their stories
of giving and gratitude


Donors share their reasons for supporting UW-Eau Claire:
Debra and Thomas King "Giving to UW-Eau Claire means being part of something remarkable."
Thomas and Debra King, who met 30 years ago as students at UW-Eau Claire, now are members of UW-Eau Claire's faculty and academic staff and sponsor scholarships that support graduate students in communication disorders and special education.
Bruce Larson "Help ensure that what you treasure now will remain for future generations."
A gift to fund new scholarships for students planning study-abroad experiences in Germany and Austria fits perfectly with the mission of the German-American Heritage Foundation, says Bruce Larson, the foundation's administrator.
Holly and Jim Trester Giving to UW-Eau Claire "brings joy to our hearts."
Alumni Jim and Holly Trester credit their UW-Eau Claire educations with making their achievements and successes possible. Their firm belief in the importance of higher education has motivated them to support scholarships at their alma mater.
John Drawbert "This is the time to give back."
John and Helen Drawbert appreciate the many ways UW-Eau Claire enriches life in the Chippewa Valley. Their gift to Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence will have a direct impact on students at the university while also supporting programs that benefit the surrounding community.
Sue Tietz "What a wonderful way to see your contributions work ..."
Sue Tietz believes UW-Eau Claire is a source of pride for the surrounding community. She also believes in financially supporting quality at the university—and in assisting those who seek to pursue their education here.


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Grateful students feel the impact of donors' generosity
on their education and their lives:

John Henry "I look forward to making the most of the opportunities my benefactors have helped to provide."
The transition from undergraduate to graduate student has included increased demands on communication disorders student John Henry, but a UW-Eau Claire Foundation scholarship has made the adjustment easier and put an advanced degree within his reach.
Lee Ann Pignet and Valerie Mumm "Your donations MAKE A DIFFERENCE."
Through gifts to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Spanish education majors Lee Ann Pignet and Valerie Mumm gained invaluable teaching experience while area schoolchildren learned about a new language and culture.
Single-parent student "Their generosity certainly inspires me …"
This single parent pursuing her education degree faces unique challenges beyond the typical stresses of a traditional university student. Generous donor support for single-parent scholarships has helped her face the challenge of succeeding both as a student and as a parent.
Jeffrey Ehrhard
"I feel blessed that I can help these athletes ..."
To achieve his career goal of working as an athletic trainer at a university, Jeffrey Ehrhard is pursuing a master of education — professional development degree at UW-Eau Claire. But attending graduate school would not have been possible without his graduate assistantship funded by the UW-Eau Claire Foundation.
Erin Szpara "Ambition and determination are not enough."
Erin Szpara, an R.N. pursuing her B.S.N. degree through UW-Eau Claire's collaborative nursing program, now has goals within her reach that she once had no hope of achieving — thanks to the support she's received through a UW-Eau Claire Foundation scholarship.
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation Inc.
Copyright 2003-04, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire/ Last updated May 17, 2004 /Questions or Comments E-mail: fdn@uwec.edu