Former President and wife still support Western Harry and Sylvia Peterson gave their time, assistance and energy during Harry’s tenure as President of Western. And although it’s been over ten years since Harry served as President, the couple continues to give to Western. Harry and Sylvia are making a planned gift through their estate to the Foundation. When Western interviewed candidates for the presidency in 1996, the search committee made arrangements to interview the spouses as well as the candidates. They were interested in finding someone to lead the University, but also to strengthen the relationship between the University and the community. “We have always felt that we were a team as a couple, so the interest in hiring a team made Gunnison and Western especially attractive to us,” explained Harry and Sylvia. When Harry retired as President 10 years ago he wrote a letter to the students, letting them know that he would not be attending commencement that year. He told them Western would change their life. He wrote, “Although my choice was made much later in life than yours, it also changed my life, and my memories will be as strong and as positive as yours.” To the faculty and staff at the University he wrote, “Sylvia
and I will never forget how we were welcomed into this small town and this University, and we will never forget your friendship.”
On leaving Western and the Gunnison Valley, Harry and Sylvia wanted to give a gift to show their love for the University. “We wanted the gift to be a living investment to help the University and future students indefinitely,” said Harry and Sylvia. “We love Gunnison and feel strongly that helping Western helps Gunnison. A scholarship not only helps excellent students it also helps the University maintain its high academic standards so we established the Harry and Sylvia Peterson Scholarship. At our departure, others generously donated funds, adding to our original gift. A student recipient has enjoyed the assistance of our Scholarship Fund for the past 10 years.” The current recipients of the Harry and Sylvia Peterson Scholarship were in elementary school when they retired and the future recipients are not yet born. “We revised our estate plans recently and included Western in our wills, feeling it was the best way we can say thank you, and help students have an unforgettable experience, just as we did.” – Article provided by Harry and Sylvia Peterson
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