Endowed funds to assist Silver Lake students

MANITOWOC -- Eight newly endowed funds at Silver Lake College will assist students in their educational preparation for high demand career fields and, at the same time, help the Franciscan-sponsored institution with annual operating costs. The new endowments add $228,800 to the college portfolio and bring the number of perpetual gifts to the school to more than ninety separately funded endowment initiatives, according to college officials.

Four endowments honor deceased faculty members, Sr. Alexa Rollmann of the college's Education department, and Sr. Thomas More Bertels of the Social Science and History Department, who also became a nationally recognized advocate and activist for issues related to agribusiness and the preservation of family farm enterprises during her career as an educator. Another of the endowments honors the long-term contributions to the college community by former chaplain and faculty member, Fr. Justin Pierce, SDS. A fourth endowed fund, this for annual fund support, memorializes the tenure of Sr. Orestes Kohlbeck, who served as college president and member of faculty from 1949 to 1957. Funding for these endowments came from gifts by family members, friends and colleagues and former and current students.

The remaining endowments represent commitments made by individuals as part of their estate plans. They reflect support for the "value of high education made possible by Silver Lake College for thousands of students over the years and the collective, positive benefits which have resulted from the college's presence" said current college president Sr. Maureen Anne Shepard. "We are grateful for the forward looking example set by these highly regarded constituents of SLC."

Estate gifts came from the family of Dr. Michael E. Lambert earmarked for the Natural Science Department; J.O., Victoria and Eileen Johnson for scholarship support for business and business-related majors at SLC; and two endowed funds from the estate of the late Edward and Veronica Saur, one of which contributes to annual operation expenses, the other for student aid for those currently enrolled in the new lay ministry program at SLC. The Pierce Endowment will also provide funding for lay students pursuing careers in church ministry while the other two named, faculty endowments will assist students in those respective, academic departments.