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| 2002 ANNUAL REPORT | a publication for alumni, family, and friends |
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In the 1920s when Marjorie Linton and her sister, Laura, decided to pursue teaching as a career, they looked to Dakota Wesleyan University for their education. Today, Wesleyan can thank the sisters for providing the way, and means, so it can continue to produce some of the best teachers in the nation. Through the Marjorie Linton O'Byrne and Laura Linton Endowment Fund for Education, the university hired Rebecca Feaster, the university's newest faculty member in the education department. Feaster and two additional faculty members at Wesleyan receive endowed funds as part of their salary packages. She admits that she doesn't know much about the sisters who made it possible for her to teach at DWU, but is thankful for the opportunity they provided. She was hired in August as an associate professor of education. Feaster earned her bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Illinois. She also has a master's degree in adaptive physical education and completed work on her doctorate from the University of South Dakota this summer. "Except for starting your first school year with a DECA (Department of Education and Cultural Affairs) review, it's been wonderful," Feaster said. "The people are very nice and friendly, and I love the small school. Having gone to huge universities, I realize now what I missed." Feaster taught school in Illinois for five years before her husband's job took the family, which includes three daughters, to Minnesota; Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Montana and Ohio before moving to Brookings a few years ago. The family now lives in Sioux Falls, but keeps an apartment in Brookings until the youngest graduates from high school. Feaster drives the 70 miles one way to campus daily. Russ Willis, vice president for academic affairs and dean, says that providing opportunities for endowed positions like Feaster's is a wonderful way for alumni and friends of Wesleyan to support a program. "Endowed positions also allow us to bring a focus to the academic world, sort of a 'put your money where your mouth is,'" he said, adding that when a faculty position is endowed, it frees up operational money to support other programs and endeavors of the university. "It's a marvelous way to support a discipline." In the short time that Feaster has been at Wesleyan, she has seen how the university strives to meet the needs of the students. Endowments help the university reach its goal of "preparing students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, faith and service." "I've been really impressed with the content teachers," Feaster said. "Our history and social studies students seem well prepared, our math students are very prepared and I have heard how wonderful the nursing program is here." She also credits the sport programs and the S.T.A.R.S. program and says the way the university promotes diversity on campus is impressive. "This is a great place to work and because we each have our niche of specialties it works real well in having a well-rounded teacher when we're done," she said. Other Endowments Laurson's will designated that $150,000 of his estate be used to establish the Philip G. Laurson Chair and pay part of the salary of a professor of physics, chemistry or mathematics. Today, about $9,000 is used from the endowment for Professor Mike Farney's position. Farney, a professor of mathematics, has worked at Wesleyan since 1979. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Santa Cruz in 1966, a master's degree from California State College at San Jose in 1970 and a Ph.D. in 1980 from Nova University. A $1.4 million bequest from the Clifford and Margaret Hughes estate provides the means for the Hughes Endowment for Music. Susan Almjeld, assistant professor of music, receives a large portion of her salary from the endowment. The endowment allowed the university to expand its music offerings and DWU has since graduated its first music majors in nearly 20 years. Almjeld, who teaches voice and other courses, earned her bachelor's degree from Lawrence University in 1981 and a master's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1999. She began teaching at Wesleyan in 1999. Greg Christy, vice president for institutional advancement, said that 40 percent of the Hughes gift went to the endowment for music because of Margaret's love of music, and another 40 percent went to the science department, with the remaining 20 percent designated as unrestricted. Hughes Science Hall on campus was renamed in honor of Clifford and Margaret Hughes. Christy says there are different levels for funding endowed positions and that only the interest earned from the investment of the gifts to the university can be used to pay salaries for endowed positions. "Part of our campaign right now is to increase the number of endowed positions," he said. "Every position that we can endow frees up more resources for the education of our students." Other endowed positions on campus include a portion of Peter Correa's salary as the director for The Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship, funded by the Rollie Kelley Endowment for Entrepreneurship. Also, about $42,500 of Wesleyan's Nursing Department salaries are funded by the Methodist Foundation proceeds from the sale of the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell. Alumni or friends of the university can also make the lives of Wesleyan students richer through endowed scholarships. Presently there are nearly 300 endowed scholarships for students who choose Wesleyan for their undergraduate work. More information on funding endowed positions or scholarships is available through the DWU Institutional Advancement office. Contact Greg Christy or Todd Muehler at 605 995-2603 for more information. Dakota Wesleyan University |
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Gloria Hanson