Campaign News
Keep up to date with The Campaign for University of Puget Sound as we work together to realize our goal of $125 million to support our students and faculty.
June 10, 2013
One of Our Kind: Kariann Lee '13
New alumna Kariann Lee '13 wore many hats during her time at Puget Sound, and she would not have had it any other way. The experiences that she had as an International Political Economy major, PacRimmer, peer advisor, tour guide, luau coordinator, and Gamma Phi Beta sister all changed her life. But let her tell you in her own words.
Tuition only covers a portion of the cost of a Puget Sound education. Alumni support plays a critical role in making up the difference. Every year almost 5,000 Loggers make gifts to the Alumni Fund in support of students like Kariann. These combined gifts have an incredible impact. That's why this year, Puget Sound is striving to set a new record for the number of alumni who donate in a single year. Join us in making history: givetopugetsound.edu.
May 13, 2013
Henry Luce Foundation Grant Takes Student Learning to New Frontiers
University of Puget Sound has been granted $50,000 by the Henry Luce Foundation to pilot a project that will immerse students in environmental studies in Southeast Asia and help the college develop new ties with scholars abroad.
The funding from the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE) will support Puget Sound in the creation of a model for ongoing summer field schools in Asia to be attended by Puget Sound students. A three-week, pilot study trip to Indonesia will take place in the summer of 2014 in collaboration with Indonesian university, government, and environmental partners. The generous grant was made as part of the university’s $125 million One [of a Kind] capital campaign.
The initiative is underpinned by the college’s Asian Studies and Environmental Policy and Decision Making programs, its focus on international studies and civic engagement, its multidisciplinary approach to learning, and its creative and dedicated faculty members.
The first field school trip will take 10 students and two professors to locations around Indonesia next year. Puget Sound students enrolled in the program will take a spring 2014 semester of study of Indonesian culture and language on campus. Over the summer they will travel to Indonesia for study, research, service work, and cultural immersion for three weeks, directed by an environmentally-focused curriculum.
The four faculty coordinators, who will guide the project in coordination with six other Puget Sound professors, are Gareth Barkin, Luce Assistant Professor of Islamic Societies in Southeast Asia; Rachel DeMotts, associate professor of environmental policy and decision making; Nick Kontogeorgopoulos, professor of international political economy; and Peter Wimberger, professor of biology and director of the Slater Museum of Natural History.
The Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE) aspires to encourage innovative approaches to Asian studies teaching and research at the undergraduate level through the lens of the environment and sustainable development.
Apr. 16, 2013
Puget Sound Athletic Teams Achieve 'Drive for 125' Wins For Puget Sound's 125th Anniversary
In honor of Puget Sound’s 125th anniversary and our $125 million comprehensive campaign, Puget Sound athletic teams set an all-sports goal of 125 wins for the 2012-13 year. This past weekend, the men's and women's varsity crew teams won Meyer-Lamberth Cups to reach 125 wins.
Nearly 20 percent of our student body competes in varsity athletics, and with 11 men’s and 12 women’s teams, Puget Sound offers more varsity sports than any other school in the Northwest Conference. The Loggers consistently advance to postseason play, perhaps most notably our women’s swim team, who have dominated the Northwest Conference. Two of our swimmers just returned from competing in the NCAA Division III National Championships.
As part of our commitment to athletics, Puget Sound will invest $17.5 million to expand and enhance athletics facilities within Memorial Fieldhouse, including the construction of a new aquatics center. These top-of-the-line facilities will not only help attract and retain high-performing student athletes, they will also offer fitness and recreation opportunities for all of our students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Learn more about the Athletics & Aquatics Center and see architectural renderings of the new spaces.
Apr. 9, 2013
Alumna's Gift Endows Physical Therapy Scholarship
Linda Sanderson Melvin ’67, a medical writer with a deep belief in science and health care education, will leave an indelible mark on University of Puget Sound. Thirteen years ago, Melvin made the generous decision to include Puget Sound in her will, joining many alumni, parents and friends as a member of the Legacy Society.
Melvin greatly admired her brother-in-law Roger Williams’ dedication to the physical therapy (PT) program, and hoped to continue a scholarship in his name. Williams influenced the creation of the PT program at Puget Sound and was the long-time Director of Clinical Education.
Melvin is now permanently funding the Roger Williams Endowed Scholarship with a $50,000 gift. With her bequest, in addition to the outright gift, the Roger Williams Endowed Scholarship will continue to provide scholarships in the future. Said Melvin, “I am delighted to be able to help this top-rated program continue to prosper and grow.”
The income provided by a strong endowment is essential in providing access to a Puget Sound education for promising students, supporting faculty scholarship, and maintaining a vibrant campus life that prepares students for success. To learn more about how you can support this mission and contribute to the area most meaningful for you, visit our Endowment page.
Mar. 29, 2013
One of our Kind: Taylor Jones '14
On and off the court, Taylor Jones is a leader. As a captain of the women’s basketball team, Jones has led the Loggers to winning season. And in the classroom, the junior psychology major is an excited and engaged student.
A quadruplet from the small town of Keizer, Oregon, Taylor was drawn to Puget Sound because it offered the opportunity for freedom and independence within a deeply supportive community. Puget Sound’s liberal arts curriculum offered a broad variety of courses that have inspired new interests and passions. After graduation, Taylor hopes to attend graduate school to study Criminology.
Taylor describes this one-of-a-kind place best: “This unique community of friends, teammates, coaches, and instructors is providing me with the support and confidence that will, no doubt, carry me into my future.”
Read more about Taylor’s Puget Sound experience, in her own words here.
Mar. 12, 2013
Senior Class Gift Campaign
Puget Sound students are dedicated to making a difference—both here at the university and in communities across the world. They give their time, energy, talents and money to make a positive impact on the world and their fellow students. The Senior Class Gift Campaign is just one of the many ways our students support the university they love.
The Senior Class Gift celebrates our seniors’ first step into the Puget Sound alumni community. After a life-changing experience at Puget Sound, it’s a chance to give back to the institution and community that helped shape them, and to ensure the same opportunities are available for the next generation of Loggers. Seniors make a five-year pledge to support the university annually with gifts to financial aid for future students. They donate $5 this year, and increase their gifts by $5 each year for the next four years, for a total of $75 over five years. These gifts add up! When combined, they have tremendous impact.
This year’s Senior Class Gift Campaign is on track to set a new record in participation. To date, almost 20 percent of the class has made a gift, putting the Class of 2013 on track to make their goal of 60% participation by graduation. Learn more about the Senior Class Gift Campaign here.
Mar. 6, 2013
One of our Kind: Mike Veseth '72
Puget Sound, we are committed to the idea that an education is something you do, not something you get. An alumnus and a faculty member, Mike is the embodiment of this vision. Over the course of a four-decade career at the university, Mike has had a life-changing impact on thousands of students. A passionate teacher, Mike is dedicated to meeting students where they are and helping them reach heights they might have never imagined. He creates courses that encourage students to engage intimately with unfamiliar ideas and to think about the ordinary in unexpected ways. He asks that they form a relationship with ideas, rather than think of a class in terms of a “paper for grades” transaction. This sort of outstanding teaching is the defining quality of a Puget Sound education, and the reason we are committed to raising $16 million in our One [of a Kind] campaign to support faculty directly.
We have already raised over half that sum, which includes $4 million to endow two new professorships in leading edge interdisciplinary fields—neuroscience and biophysics—and we seek to endow several more. We are also raising funds to support faculty in developing innovative new courses and fields of study, to support their engagement with students in residential life outside the classroom, and to sustain their continued pursuit of new knowledge through original scholarship and creative work across the disciplines—work in which they often involve their students as collaborators.
We are proud to call Mike Veseth one of our kind. Hear his story, in his own words.
Feb. 18, 2013
Art + Science Salons
Artists and scientists tend to live and work in very different worlds. But many scholars are asking: “Is there something to be gained in our understanding of humankind by encouraging scientists and artists to share ideas?”
Siddharth Ramakrishnan, the new Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience at University of Puget Sound, asked this question several years ago. He began sharing his scientific inspirations with artists and together they found new ways of looking at things. When the former Columbia University researcher arrived in Tacoma this year, he found many eager to collaborate with him. And thus, the Art + Science Salon was born. The salon is a true celebration of the liberal arts, exploring the intersections between various disciplines.
This week, on Feb. 21, the University of Puget Sound and Tacoma Art Museum will present the first Art + Science Salon, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tacoma Art Museum. The public is welcome to attend this free event. The evening will include five-minute presentations by 10 artists and scientists in what is known as Pecha Kucha style: a fast-paced series of presentations that encourage the synthesizing of ideas.
“These collaborations can help break down the intimidation of science,” Ramakrishnan says. “Art is more accessible and can bring more people into a conversation that just a few scientists. You give artists access to scientific data and allow them to interpret it, and they are better at informing the local culture about important events.”
Art + Science salons will be held several times per year. The next salon is scheduled for April 18 at Tacoma Art Museum. Learn more about the events here.
The endowed Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience was funded through the generosity of Marvin H. Caruthers P’02, distinguished professor of biochemistry and chemistry at University of Colorado Boulder, in memory of his late wife. The gift was made as part of the $125 million One [of a Kind] Campaign.
Feb. 6, 2013
One of our Kind: George Matelich '78
George E. Matelich ’78 was the first in his family to graduate from a four-year college. Now managing director of Kelso & Company, a director of the American Prairie Reserve, a member of Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, and treasurer of the University of Puget Sound Board of Trustees, George and his wife, Susan E. Matelich, give back generously to the college which has made a tremendous impact in his life. In 2010, George and Susan established The Matelich Scholar Program to provide future generations of students with the opportunity to pursue a life-changing Puget Sound education. Hear George tell you, in his own words, how Puget Sound made a difference his life. And learn more about The Matelich scholarship here.
Jan. 22, 2013
Student Spotlight: Grace Youn
University of Puget Sound senior, Grace Youn, is writing her own story, through music. A violinist since the age of seven, Youn developed a love for classical music as a member of the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association. Though her parents supported her interest as a recreational activity, they were reluctant to see her pursue music professionally. Her experience at Puget Sound changed everything.
“Puget Sound taught me to value curiosity,” says Youn, the recipient of the Edward Seferian and Paul Bellamy Endowed Scholarship Funds. During her tenure, she has not only performed with multiple ensembles within the School of Music, but also sought opportunities outside of the college, performing and teaching with the Tacoma Symphony. Driven by a passion for learning, she has charted new territory, teaching herself to improvise and launching an extremely popular YouTube channel where she covers popular songs on the violin, melding classical music with improvisation and other musical traditions. Her cover of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’” won The Rockin’ Fiddle Challenge this year, her first award outside of classical music.
At Puget Sound, she learned that that classical music is not the only valuable form of music. In addition to learning violin technique, she has learned that she is a storyteller. “Music is a language,” she says, “and I seek to be fluent in all of its dialects.” Alumni, parents, and friends in the San Francisco and Denver areas had the opportunity to enjoy Grace’s storytelling firsthand during One [of a Kind] campaign events in those cities. You can hear Grace perform on her YouTube page.
Though she is unsure where her path will take her after leaving Puget Sound, it is clear that Grace’s passion for learning will lead her to make an impact in the music world and beyond.
Jan. 10, 2013
One of our Kind: Dan Clements '71
Dan Clements ’71 is a man of varied talents, from pioneering innovative concepts in e-publishing to teaching underwater photography. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English at Puget Sound, Dan went on to have successful careers in both public finance and publishing. In addition, he has pursued interests in diving, sailing and travel by organizing a series of destination dive trips each year to teach underwater photography. Learn more about Dan.
Dec. 21, 2012
Student Spotlight: Joe Cerne '14
Joe Cerne's twitter handle—@Loggerforlife—says it all. The hard-working junior from Enumclaw, Washington is making the most of his Puget Sound experience, both on and off the field. Joe is a business and economics double major and Spanish minor who hopes to study abroad. Outside of class, Joe spends much of his time on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium as both a defensive back on the Logger football team and a decorated decathlete. He was recently named to the US Track & Field And Cross Country Coaches Association's All-Academic team, and invited to the NCAA Championships. In addition to academics and athletics, Joe is actively involved in campus life as a Phi Delt and an officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Learn how Joe does it all (with your financial support) in this new video.
Sept. 29, 2012
One [of a Kind] Evening Denver
On Saturday, Sept. 29, more than 80 Loggers joined President Ron Thomas and Mary Thomas for a One [of a Kind] evening in Denver. Puget Sound alumni, including many recent graduates, and parents enjoyed cocktails and conversation at the Boettcher Mansion Carriage House. The evening included inspiring remarks from President Thomas, Trustee Emeritus Marv Caruthers P’02, Regional Alumni Club Co-coordinator Monica Petersen ’01, and Director of Capital Development Ally Bujacich. The audience also enjoyed a rousing performance of “Don’t Stop Believin',” by violinist Grace Youn ’13.
To hear more of Grace’s violin covers and performances, visit her YouTube channel.
Sept. 24, 2012
Kaimas Foundation Makes $300,000 Gift to International Political Economy Program
The International Political Economy Program (IPE) at University of Puget Sound has received a $300,000 gift from the Kaimas Foundation to support faculty members and their students in pursuing research abroad. The new funding will be directed into the Nicholas Vasilius IPE Endowment Fund, which was established in 2009, and will increase the resources available to help professors extend student learning beyond the classroom.
Sept. 15, 2012
One [of a Kind] Evening San Francisco
More than 100 Loggers from the Bay Area gathered Saturday, Sept. 15, for a One [of a Kind] evening. Puget Sound alumni and parents shared stories over drinks and hors d'oeuvres with President Ron Thomas, Mary Thomas, board members Rick Brooks ’82 and Jill Nishi ’89, and Alumni Council and Parents Council committee members. The program included a violin duet by Associate Professor of Music Maria Sampen and Grace Youn ’13, helping bring a little Puget Sound to San Francisco.
Aug. 23, 2012
Campus community gathers for One [of a Kind] Faculty and Staff Celebration
On Thursday, Aug. 23, faculty and staff members from across campus gathered for a special celebration of the One [of a Kind] campaign. President Ron Thomas, chair of the board of trustees Rick Brooks ’82, and members of the Faculty and Staff Campaign Committee shared their Puget Sound stories and those of one-of-a-kind students. Read Director of Capital Development Ally Bujacich's Puget Sound story.
July 26, 2012
Names Family Foundation $1.1 Million Pledge for Athletics and Aquatics Center
This generous pledge will help Puget Sound enhance Memorial Fieldhouse and attach a spacious addition to it, creating a modern, attractive, fully-integrated recreation and fitness facility for Puget Sound’s student athletes, campus members, and the community.
May 10, 2012
Siddharth Ramakrishnan Appointed Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience
Siddharth Ramakrishnan, an educator and researcher currently working at Columbia University in New York, has been appointed the first Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience at University of Puget Sound.
The chair is funded through a generous gift to the $125 million Campaign for Puget Sound, which seeks to raise $63 million for endowment to support faculty, student financial aid, and other campus programs.
April 30, 2012
Architectural renderings complete for new aquatics and fitness centers
The $17.5 million project includes renovations to Memorial Fieldhouse
It has been said that sports and recreation at Dvision III schools are the sweatiest of the liberal arts. That's certainly the case at Puget Sound. Nearly 20 percent of the student body participates in intercollegiate athletics, and a lot of teaching and learning takes place on our courts and fields. But a much greater number of students and staff are involved in intramural and club sports, and recreation. Drop by the fitness center or pool during lunch or after classes and the exercise machines and swimming lanes are in use at maximum capacity.
On the drawing board: a state-of-the-art, two-depth, 25-yard swimming pool, with eight 8-foot lanes with a moveable bulkhead and space for activities such as water polo, scuba, and kayaking. At 39,000 square feet, the aquatics center will seat 500 spectators and include new locker rooms and a poolside classroom. Plans also include a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, a rowing ergonomics room, and a new athletics Hall of Fame area will pay tribute to Loggers from all eras.
Learn more about the new facility.
Dec. 14, 2011
Top rating for Puget Sound from Charity Navigator
Oct. 29, 2011
The Lillis Foundation Makes $8 Million Gift to Endow Scholarship Program at University of Puget Sound
Oct. 29, 2011
University of Puget Sound Announces $125 Million Capital Campaign
