Saint Martin’s University receives major gift from longtime supporters
Campus building to bear new name: ‘Marcus Pavilion’
May 9, 2008
Lacey, Washington — Douglas M. Astolfi, president of Saint Martin’s
University, announced today that Olympia residents Inge and Harold “Hal”
Marcus have made a significant gift toward the school’s $5.5 million A
Winning Spirit Campaign. In recognition of the Marcuses’ support and
long-standing relationship with the University and Abbey, Saint Martin’s
will name its Pavilion in their honor. A landmark structure on Saint
Martin’s main campus, the Hal and Inge Marcus Pavilion will continue to
be a popular venue for University and community events.
“For more than two decades, Hal and Inge have been active members of
the Saint Martin’s family,” said Astolfi. “Their generosity, service and
commitment to this institution have enriched the lives of our students
and have helped shape the look and spirit of our campus. The name
‘Marcus Pavilion’ will provide enduring recognition of their many
contributions to Saint Martin’s University and Abbey.”
The Marcuses have a strong history of philanthropy and leadership
with Saint Martin’s University. Hal was a member of the school’s board
of trustees from 1987 to 2006, serving as chair from 1991 to 1993.
During his service, Saint Martin’s navigated through facilities
improvements, a campus expansion, the improvement of academic programs
and the historic transition from college to university status. Saint
Martin’s awarded Hal an honorary degree in 2002, and in 2007 bestowed on
him the inaugural University Medal. Inge earned a bachelor’s degree in
biology from Saint Martin’s in 1982, and after receiving her master’s
degree from Chapman University, taught biology at Saint Martin’s for 17
years, the last three years as an assistant professor. Inge is also a
member of the University’s President’s Council. The Marcuses’ son
Matthew and daughter-in-law Theresa are both Saint Martin’s graduates.
The Marcuses served as co-chairs of the University’s successful
Building for Our Second Century Campaign, which raised $10.5 million to
construct O’Grady Library. The campaign effort took Saint Martin’s
$500,000 beyond the original goal, generating the largest sum of gifts
ever raised for any non-profit project in Thurston County.
Saint Martin’s University launched A Winning Spirit Campaign in 2006
to construct a student recreation and fitness center, track and field
complex, and soccer fields. With the addition of these structures,
students will have access to modern, on-campus recreation and fitness
facilities. The Marcuses’ gift brings the campaign total to $4.7
million, nearly 85 percent of the $5.5 million goal.
The Marcuses have contributed generously to other institutions,
including Penn State, where Hal received his bachelor’s degree in
industrial engineering and, years later, the Outstanding Engineering
Alumnus Award. In 1995, Hal and Inge endowed an exchange program linking
Penn State and Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology. The couple
recently received the President’s Award from the Institute of Industrial
Engineers in recognition of distinguished service to the industrial
engineering profession.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year, Catholic,
coeducational university located on a 320-acre wooded campus in Lacey,
Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict,
the University is one of 18 Benedictine colleges and universities in the
United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains.
Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through
its 21 majors and six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts,
business, education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250
students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main campus,
and 650 more to its five extension campuses located at Fort Lewis Army
Post, McChord Air Force Base, Olympic College, Centralia College and
Tacoma Community College.
For additional information:
Jennifer Fellinger
Director of Communications
360-438-4332
JFellinger@stmartin.edu