The Original Proposal - Dec 16/18

Hi guys,

One thing that some of us Chem Eng 70 guys have consistently been told by university graduates from other programs or universities is that the last time they saw or spoke to one of their classmates was the day they graduated. They are always surprised to learn that for almost 50 years we have held golf tournaments, reunions, lunches, etc. and have always managed to ‘draw a crowd’.

With that in mind and remembering the passing of several of our classmates, wouldn’t it be fitting to find a way to keep the camaraderie of our Chem Eng 70 group ongoing.

No doubt this was top of mind for Brian Blackwell when he proposed the idea of starting up a scholarship fund. With Bob Taylor’s help we have been able to get some information on this subject. The attached Scholarships & Awards PDF file describes things in more detail but the concept is that we could establish a: NAMED TRUST, NAMED ENDOWMENT or PROGRESSIVE ENDOWMENT.

A Named Trust would require a minimum gift of $10,000 and would offer a $2,000 per year scholarship for 5 years.

A Named Endowment would require a minimum gift of $40,000 which would be invested in perpetuity, and would create a continuous revenue stream for a scholarship.

A Progressive Endowment would require a multi-year gift (minimum $40,000), offering an immediate award and an on-going funding source at the conclusion of the pledge.

It is important to note that all gifts can be pledged over a period of up to 5 years.

The concept is that each of us contribute what we can with the expectation that through our collective efforts we reach a threshold funding level for one of the above scholarship programs.

At the outset we have no way of knowing how much money we might be able to raise therefore the UofW has indicated that we could start with a generic fund and defer a decision on whether it will be a trust or endowment until fundraising is complete. UofW would help set this up and you would make your (tax deductible) donations directly to them. 

We hope this idea excites you as much as it does us so if you have questions, comments or concerns, we want to know them. And before we pursue this any further, we need to know whether you support this idea and would be willing to participate. So, give us your feedback!

When we graduated in 1970, would you have ever imagined us ‘Chem Eng 70’s’ providing a scholarship to help other students and keeping the memory of our class alive. Now we have the opportunity. Please give this idea your full consideration.
Tom & Vic