Campus
Inspired by their families, a love of Northwestern and the desire to make the University and the world a better place, women philanthropists have created exciting new spaces, programs and opportunities for students.
Flanked by an arch of rainbow-colored balloons, David Waymer ’14 had an exciting announcement for the nearly 70 members of the class of 2019 standing before him. As president of the Northwestern University Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association (NUGALA), he was speaking at Lavender Graduation — a ceremony held June 18 to celebrate the achievements of graduating students in the University’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and ally community.
In 1869 the Northwestern University Board of Trustees voted to admit women as students. This academic year we are commemorating 150 years of women at Northwestern, to celebrate the individuals who have taken risks, charted their own course and inspired great change.
A transformative gift from two longtime donors will help generations of highly qualified students obtain a Northwestern education. Trustee and alumnus Jeff Ubben ’87 MBA and his wife, Laurie, have made an estate commitment of $50 million to support scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and professional school students.
The Shakespeare Garden, one of Northwestern’s cherished hidden gems, is home to various trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs that were mentioned in Shakespeare’s writings, were common during his lifetime or are modern cultivars of those older plants.
Last winter two beavers were spotted on the Evanston campus. University archivist Kevin Leonard ’77, ’82 MA says the Evanston campus has long been home to more than Wildcats, with bats, raccoons, skunks, “semi-domesticated” squirrels, foxes and coyotes living on or near campus.
“My family taught me that the purpose of life is service to others,” says Emelia Carroll ’19 JD, who recently graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and will soon start her career at the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. Carroll chose Northwestern Law for its outstanding reputation, journals and clinics, and a scholarship endowed by Kathy and Jon Newcomb ’79, ’82 JD helped make it possible for her to attend.
Many donors wish to make an impact on Northwestern not just during their lifetimes but after they have passed, leaving a lasting legacy of support for the University and helping to transform the lives of future generations of students.
The Henry and Emma Rogers Society was founded in summer 1987 to honor and recognize alumni and friends who have included Northwestern in their estate plans. Today nearly 2,000 Rogers Society members have included Northwestern in their estate plans through planned gifts, creating a lasting legacy at Northwestern.
Twenty years ago, Ryan DuVal ’02 moved into his room in Bobb-McCulloch Hall a few days early. Inspired by a trip to Italy, he decided to paint three scenes from the Sistine Chapel ceiling in his dorm room — and inadvertently became a national sensation.
