Cowley College Endowment Association thriving

A capacity crowd of Cowley College donors attended the Annual Endowment Association Banquet held Dec. 3 in the Earle N. Wright Community Room. During the banquet, it was announced that the total assets for the Endowment Association sit at $4 million dollars.

Terri Morrow, who retired as Cowley College Dean of Development and College Relations at the end of the year, was honored at the banquet. The Cowley College Endowment fund had around $550,000 in it when Morrow started at the college in 1990.

Curt Freeland, President of the college’s Endowment Association, along with Cowley College President Dr. Patrick J. McAtee, praised the work done by Morrow over the past 18 years.

Morrow was originally hired to put together the campaign to build the Brown Center. Other campaigns have included the campaign to build the Webb-Brown Center as well as the renovations to the W.S. Scott Auditorium Lobby and the Jungle, located in the Gwen Nelson Student Center. 

Her primary roles at the college included fundraising for scholarships, capital and annual campaigns, special event fundraisers, college relations, issuing scholarships, mailing the Tiger Alumni News to alumni and friends of Cowley, and this year booking the performances and speakers at the college. 

Freeland presented Morrow with a stainless steel sculpture titled “Tango” that was made by Gary Kahle. Freeland was also recognized at the banquet with the Cowley College Ambassador Award. The award recognizes individuals who have provided sustained volunteer or other service, or through philanthropic work to Cowley College.

Freeland has been involved and supportive of Cowley College for more than 20 years. In his involvement with the Endowment Association, Freeland has worked on all the major fundraising campaigns, helping to raise several million dollars.

Chris Cannon, Cowley College Lead MICT Instructor, and Scott MacLaughlin, Director of Theatre and Theatrical Services, were recipients of the Young Achiever Award. The award recognizes individuals age 40 or younger that have had success in their educational achievements, careers and community service, and/or service to Cowley College.

Cannon completed the first MICT program offered at Cowley College in 1997. He began part-time employment at Cowley in 1998 and became a full-time MICT instructor in June 2005. He developed the evening MICT class at Cowley College and was awarded the Master Teacher designation by NISOD in 2006. Cannon also developed the leadership degree for the college and serves on several committees.

MacLaughlin began working at the college in 1996 as the Technical Director and became the Director of Theatre and Theatrical Services in 2003. As theatre director he is responsible for directing the main stage shows, sponsoring Act One, the drama club, and teaching Theatre Appreciation, Acting, and Public Speaking. He has also directed several outstanding musicals and plays.

MacLaughlin has served on several committees at the college and is also actively involved in volunteer work.

Larry and Carrla Pike, owners of L.G. Pike Construction Company, Inc., were also recognized at the banquet. The Pike’s recently made a gift of $50,000 to Cowley College to establish scholarships for students who would otherwise be unable to attend the school.

Following the Endowment Association Banquet, the crowd headed into the Robert Brown Theatre to witness the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s production of Charles Dickens’ Family Holiday Classic “A Christmas Carol”.

Both the chilling poverty and luxurious wealth of the period served as a thrilling backdrop to the staged production, which utilized music, dance and drama to weave the spellbinding fable of a man who is given the rarest of gifts, the chance to change his life and to find his heart.

Spring 2008