College Receives $2 Million Gift from Alumni

Above, Bill Felder ’80 (Delta Tau Delta), Rob Price ’65 (Beta Theta Pi), Jack Baumstark ’67 (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), President Akande, and John Panettiere ’59 (Phi Delta Theta).

Westminster College President Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande announced today that four alumni couples stepped forward to donate a total of $2 million to help the institution carry out its mission.  These donations were made during the recently concluded Alumni Weekend.

“The financial investment of our alumni is the lifeblood of Westminster,” says President Akande.  “We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals at the forefront of our effort.”

The announcement was made by one of the four donors, John M. Panettiere, Class of 1959, from Eclectic Alabama, who is a Board of Trustee member, at the dedication of the newly renovated President’s Residence on Saturday.

“We need our alumni, trustees, and friends to come forward and give Dr. Akande the ammunition to forge ahead successfully,” says Panettiere.  “We can’t expect positive results without giving the College the financial backing in order to effect these positive changes!”

The four couples who have joined the Chancellor’s Circle include John and Wendy Panettiere, Bill (Class of 1980 and Trustee) and Katharine Felder from Dallas, TX; Robert (Class of 1965) and Susan Price from Lake Charles, LA; and Jack (Class of 1967) and Janet Baumstark from St. Louis, MO.

“We can be so grateful that these four couples are strongly invested in the future welfare of this College we all feel is such a special place, and I want to publicly thank them for their generosity,” says President Akande.  “I look forward to working with them as well as others in the months ahead.”