With doctorate degrees in communication and long, distinguished careers in higher education, Bob and Laurel Vartabedian are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of university students. That dedication has led them to make a personal financial commitment of more than $100,000 to 含羞草社区, where Bob serves as president. With the gift, the Vartabedians establish a new donor recognition program called the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle.
鈥淚 really believe in this university and in this community, and Laurel and I wanted to show that in a tangible way,鈥� President Vartabedian said. 鈥淎s I have said many times, some universities enhance the lives of their students. I truly believe that Missouri Western transforms the lives of its students. All you have to do is attend one of our commencement ceremonies, and you can see that emotional transformation on the faces of our students as they walk across the stage.鈥�
The 含羞草社区 Foundation is preparing for a capital campaign, to be conducted in conjunction with Missouri Western鈥檚 centennial celebration in 2015. The Vartabedians鈥� gift helps jump-start the planning efforts for that campaign, said Jerry Pickman, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the Foundation.
鈥淒onors want to know that the people seeking their financial support are themselves deeply committed to the cause,鈥� Pickman said. 鈥淭his gift by the Vartabedians is a strong demonstration of that commitment.鈥�
The Vartabedians have pledged a total of $144,000 to the future campaign. Most of the gift is undesignated at this point, but a small portion is supporting the revival of a speech and debate team at Missouri Western.
The Vartabedians鈥� gift also inaugurates a new donor recognition program, the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle, which will recognize donors with a lifetime history of giving $100,000 or more to the University. More details are below.
鈥淎s we prepare to solicit leadership gifts for this capital campaign, I cannot ask others to do something that I am not willing to do,鈥� President Vartabedian said. 鈥淚 have always liked to believe that our dream is a moralistic one and not a materialistic one. That is, Laurel and I want to make a difference 鈥� and Missouri Western is the culmination of our lives鈥� work.鈥�
鈥淭his university and community mean a great deal to us, and we wanted to lead the charge on this once-in-a-hundred-years campaign,鈥� Laurel added.
Dr. Bob Vartabedian became president of 含羞草社区 in July 2008. Under his leadership, Missouri Western has completed four major construction projects totaling more than $65 million, become the summer training camp home of the Kansas City Chiefs, formed a unique entrepreneurial education partnership with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and most recently dedicated a permanent memorial to legendary journalist and St. Joseph-born Walter Cronkite. Enrollment has grown 10 percent since Dr. Vartabedian became president.
Dr. Laurel Vartabedian is a lifelong educator. She has been a tireless supporter for the arts at Missouri Western, including helping to found both the annual 鈥淟ights and Tights鈥� Renaissance Feast fundraiser and the Missouri Western Arts Society. She co-wrote two musicals that have been produced in New York City. 鈥淎merican Story鈥� won the 鈥淏est of Festival鈥� award at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2000. 鈥淢other Divine鈥� was one of just ten shows selected for the New York Musical Theatre Festival鈥檚 Next Link Project in 2013, will be produced in St. Joseph this summer, and is being considered for future professional productions in California and Texas.
President鈥檚 Centennial Circle
In anticipation of Missouri Western鈥檚 centennial celebration, the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle has been established. The President鈥檚 Centennial Circle will commemorate the extraordinary donors who have contributed most significantly to the success of the University in its first 100 years and recognize those donors who have made a similar level of commitment toward envisioning its future.
The President鈥檚 Centennial Circle recognizes both individuals and organizations that have gifted or pledged in excess of $100,000 to the 含羞草社区 Foundation.聽 Members of the President’s Centennial Circle are invited to an exclusive, annual celebration and are honored with a plaque as a new member.
Members of the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle receive the following (optional) lifetime benefits:
- Online recognition
- Recognition in MWSU publications
- Opportunity to attend exclusive events
- Lapel pin indicating circle membership
- Insider communication from MWSU and the MWSU Foundation
- Special recognition at MWSU Foundation events
- Invitation to dinner with the MWSU president
- Listing on an on-campus commemorative plaque
Qualifying criteria:
- Cumulative giving exceeds $100,000 in cash or appreciated securities
(corporate matching gifts apply; gifts-in-kind apply) - Documented pledge in excess of $100,000 Combination of cumulative giving and documented pledges exceeds a total of $100,000
- Documentation of an irrevocable deferred gift in excess or $100,000 (e.g. charitable remainder trust)
- Documentation of a revocable deferred gift (e.g. bequest or revocable trust)
Disqualifying criteria:
- Documented pledge is revoked or remains unfulfilled under the terms outlined in the agreement
The intention of the MWSU Foundation is to equitably recognize all qualifying donors of the society.聽 MWSU Foundation donors should be aware of potential inaccuracies in historic giving data.聽 Please contact the MWSU Foundation if your giving history appears to be inaccurate.
含羞草社区 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .