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President Lester A. Lefton embraces donors Walter and Judy Van Benthuysen during the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
President Lester A. Lefton embraces donors Walter and Judy Van Benthuysen during the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Twin sister scholarship recipients Audrianna (left) and Brittney Sisul were honored as part of the 2011 Founders Gala.
Twin sister scholarship recipients Audrianna (left) and Brittney Sisul were honored as part of the 2011 Founders Gala.
Family members of the late Kent State Professor Dr. Anthony Silvidi are honored by Founders Scholars student Emily Woods (center) during the awards ceremony.
Family members of the late Kent State Professor Dr. Anthony Silvidi are honored by Founders Scholars student Emily Woods (center) during the awards ceremony.
Senior Founders Scholars students pose for a photo prior to the start of the 2011 Founders Gala.
Senior Founders Scholars students pose for a photo prior to the start of the 2011 Founders Gala.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton addresses those attending the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Kent State President Lester A. Lefton addresses those attending the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Kent State student musical group Flash in the Pan performs as part of the 2011 Founders Gala entertainment.
Kent State student musical group Flash in the Pan performs as part of the 2011 Founders Gala entertainment.
The 2011 Founders Gala was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
The 2011 Founders Gala was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
  • President Lester A. Lefton embraces donors Walter and Judy Van Benthuysen during the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
  • Twin sister scholarship recipients Audrianna (left) and Brittney Sisul were honored as part of the 2011 Founders Gala.
  • Family members of the late Kent State Professor Dr. Anthony Silvidi are honored by Founders Scholars student Emily Woods (center) during the awards ceremony.
  • Senior Founders Scholars students pose for a photo prior to the start of the 2011 Founders Gala.
  • Kent State President Lester A. Lefton addresses those attending the 2011 Founders Gala, which was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
  • Kent State student musical group Flash in the Pan performs as part of the 2011 Founders Gala entertainment.
  • The 2011 Founders Gala was held in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

Founders Gala Recognizes University Donors
and Their Gifts’
Impact

Valoree Vargo
The 2011 Founders Gala was held Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. The event honors Kent State University’s most generous individual and corporate donors and the impact their gifts have on students, faculty and progress of Kent State.

Gifts totaling $100,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations in a single year are recognized at the Founders Gala. The event recognized the gifts received during fiscal year 2011 which totaled more than $22 million, a little more than half of the record-breaking $42 million raised last fiscal year. Four corporations and 28 individuals were honored this year.

The gifts honored included four corporate gifts for research, new curricula development, software and digital broadcast upgrades for WKSU-FM. Individual gifts included several new scholarships, support for athletic programs, departmental and college support, as well as technology upgrades and lab renovation. 

Two of the Founders honorees shared their inspiration for giving to Kent State. Walter Van Benthuysen, a ’61 advertising graduate, and his wife, Judy, have created The Van Benthuysen Applied Business Experience Awards, given to students that embark on unpaid internships. The awards help to cover living costs while a student gains valuable experience during an unpaid internship. One of the recipients of that award, Zachary New, a senior business and finance major, shared his internship experience at Cleveland Clinic’s Institute Finance Department. The experience was possible because of the Van Benthuysens’ generosity and commitment to Kent State students.

Audrianna and Brittney Sisul, twin sisters and business majors, shared their story of how scholarships have been key in helping them to meet expenses, including books and a once-in-a-lifetime travel abroad opportunity in Florence, Italy.

The event also featured several Founders Senior Scholars throughout the evening.