MAKE A DIFFERENCE
PHILANTHROPY WEEK
Alumni can give back in many ways
Alumni Career Panel series: 30 alumni participated in our career panel series during Incoming Student Orientation this fall, speaking to students considering career paths in psychology, natural sciences, engineering, law, arts & humanities, and more. Career Takeout: An enthusiastic group of alumni met at the home of VP of Career Development, Christina Vinluan Heda ’04, for Career Takeout, an opportunity for students to chat with alumni about potential career opportunities during an off-campus dinner. Two to four Career Takeout events are offered per academic year. If you are interested in serving as a host, please contact us at alumni@oglethorpe.edu. Career and Internship Fair: We welcomed eight Alumni at their firm or organization’s tables at the fair in late September. This effort was coordinated by Director of Career Development Erin Sherrill and Stephanie Szalkowski ’89. Scholarship Weekend: To support OU Admissions, the Alumni Board Admissions Committee helped recruit
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CARILLON Alumni News | Fall 2017
OU celebrated its second annual Philanthropy Week November 3-10, 2017. Through different activities, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations built awareness and educated the campus community on the importance of giving and giving back. One of the goals is to promote a culture of gratitude among students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and trustees as they make a difference.
more than 50 alumni interviewers for Scholarship Weekend and expect the same or more this year. Host Committees: Many events are hosted by alumni committees such as Evening of Holiday Enchantment, Eggs & OU, Alumni Athletic matches, and of course, Alumni Weekend! We also invite alumni to interact with current students as table hosts at events hosted by the Alumni Office in cooperation with the Alumni Board, such as the Sophomore Traditions Dinner, Junior Etiquette dinner and the Senior Carillon Ceremony.
Philanthropy Week events included: • President’s Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting • Planned Giving Council Luncheon • Senior Campaign kick-off event • Young Alumni Club Gives Back event • Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) packed donation boxes for Operation Christmas Child • Alumni Volunteer Thank-You Luncheon
Young Alumni Club: This club’s vibrant steering committee plans happy hours and service events for classes up to 10 years out. Alumni Writers: Take a look at the articles in this magazine, written by alumni on the Communications Committee of the Alumni Board. Professional Resource list: We maintain a list of volunteers for requests like resume reviewers, mock interviewers, speakers, etc. As part of Philanthropy Week on campus, alumni volunteers were invited to attend an Alumni Thank You luncheon catered by Chick-fil-A on Nov. 10; and, they are recognized annually at the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony during Alumni Weekend. Volunteer opportunities are listed on our alumni website at alumni.oglethorpe.edu/ helpOU, or please contact alumni@ oglethorpe.edu.
Top: Bruce Benton ’86 (left) and John Shelnutt ’84 (right) joined Dr. Mike Rulison, professor of physics, for Science on the Green organized by the OU Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter. Bruce and John spoke with current dual-degree engineering and other science students about their experiences. Dr. Rulison says, “John and Bruce were in a few math and physics courses. I also knew them from working as statistician and shot clock operator for Jack Berkshire’s men’s basketball team.” Science on the Green will be a featured activity at Alumni Weekend, April 20-21, 2018. Bottom: Alumni and students engage at Career Day
REVOCABLE TRUSTS
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lumni engagement with the university through volunteerism is on the rise! In partnership with campus departments such as Career Development and Admissions, and with the support of our Alumni Board committee vice presidents, there have never been so many opportunities to give back and positively impact current students.
Promoting a culture of gratitude for everyone on campus
While most people are familiar with wills, another powerful planning tool is the revocable or living trust. A revocable trust is one where assets may be placed and income generated is paid to grantor but provisions can be altered or cancelled during the life of the grantor. Assets are transferred to beneficiaries at the passing of the grantor. While no planning tool works for everyone, revocable trusts may be worth discussing with your financial planners. Pros – Revocable trusts may:
Cons – Revocable trusts may:
• Make management of assets easier
• Require a will
• Make transfer of assets quicker versus probate
• Cost more to draft than standard wills
•H elp to maintain privacy versus the public probate process
•H ave a longer period in which they can be contested
• Extend FDIC protections to beneficiaries
Revocable trusts do not protect assets from creditors or reduce estate tax liability. As always, Oglethorpe University encourages you to seek the advice of tax and financial professionals for your estate planning. Please feel free to contact our Director of Major and Planned Gifts John Carr at 404-364-8439 or jcarr1@oglethorpe.edu to discuss ways you may benefit Oglethorpe in your estate plan.
•H ave lower fees for trust administration than probate costs •H elp to avoid probate in multiple jurisdictions if property is owned in two or more states •H elp to avoid guardianship and conservatorship issues versus probate
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY
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