UCM Magazine - Fall 2020 - Annual Report

FY2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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ds, Dear Alumni and Frien grammatic support, dent scholarships and pro stu to ts jec behalf of the pro l ita cap in countless ways. On ive thr From investments in ri ou iss M al ntr annual report University of Ce illed to share the 2020 thr philanthropy helps the are we s, tor rec Di tion’s Board of UCM Alumni Founda with you. of you chose to , 2020) more than 6,680 30 e Jun gh ou thr 19 20 mmitments. This r (July 1, 53 in gifts and pledge co In the previous fiscal yea 2,1 ,31 $7 in ing ult res financially, to MuleNation. support the university t is a strong testament en em iev ach g isin dra record-setting fun lping others. As we deep commitment to he a red sha lly ica tor his we have r. We thank you for As Mules and Jennies, more important than eve w no is . e vic ser of se our sen ough this even stronger navigate the unknown, uleNation will come thr M er, eth tog t, tha ow d kn your kind generosity an expansion of Crane cant gifts to support the nifi sig ced n un no an we , ort ax. B. Swisher Skyhave In last year’s annual rep improvements to the M as ll we as , for all n seb tio Ba da s d Foun Stadium, home of Mule ’76, and the Sunderlan grateful to Jim Crane, are n. These worthwhile we r, itio yea fru is to Th ts rt.

Airpo these capital projec ng bri lp he to ns tio the high caliber of our their generous contribu e our facilities to match nc ha en ll wi ns tio era investments in future gen grams. academic and athletic pro avirus the effects of the coron in their support when g on rs came Str no ule do M of re up we s prised when a gro sur Alumni and friend t no re we e W . nts hip pact our stude Together: Student Hards pandemic began to im rtunity for the “In This po nal op t rso gif pe te ing spi tch De ma a n. financial burde ing together to launch fac nts de stu to ce g gifts to the diate assistan r greatest needs by makin ou Fund,” providing imme rt po sup to e nu nti support made a saw donors co re able to give, as your we circumstances, we also o wh u yo of se tho Thank you to Central Annual Fund. s difficult time. thi in world of difference 2021, we are ary as an institution in ers niv an 0th 15 r ou celebrating from the stories in As we look forward to look like. As you can see ll wi rs yea 0 15 xt ne what the yond what they thought compelled to envision es of UCM students be liv the s orm nsf tra y nthrop erations. Thank you this annual report, phila now and for future gen en pp ha s ng thi le ab g remark possible. You are makin ement and support. gag en ed nu for your conti Sincerely,

Scott Taylor, ’89 s dation Board of Director President, Alumni Foun

J.D. Courtney E. Goddard, ty Advancement rsi ive Un t, en Vice Presid Directors ni Foundation Board of Executive Director, Alum

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As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program, the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport will receive a $30,000 federal grant.

2020 A N N UA L R E P O RT

Thank You to all donors who gave and generous alumni who stepped up to match $16,000 in gifts to UCM’s “In This Together: Student Hardship Fund” this spring: • Mike, ’72, and Patti, ’72, Davidson • Frank, ’73, and Tamara Deel • Diane, ’81, and Chuck, ’80, Dudley

Trustees dation Board of un Fo nd la er nd The Su 2020 for in fiscal year 0 0 ,0 0 5 2 $ ns Field. nated ert N. Tompki 0,000 b oundation do o F R d at n la m er iu d n 90 The Su Crane Stad .4 million ($ the James R. ntributed $1 co the so al at s as renovations to n h io n r renovat oundatio fo F n d n io la at er vi d A n f The Su School o FY20) to the committed in irport.

A er Skyhaven Max B. Swish

• Rand, ’85, and Kelly, ’86, Harbert • Shirley, ’67, and Steve Kleppe • Leslie, ’77/’78, and Robert Krasner • Scott, ’89, and Christine Taylor To learn more about the impact these couples made on UCM students, see pages 20–21.

We are Mule Strong with your support!

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane, ’76, donated $1.5 million to renovate the James R. Crane Stadium at Robert N. Tom pkins Field.

All-American Honorable Mention: 1974, 1975 MIAA Most Valuable Pla yer: 1974 MIAA 1st Team: 1974, 19 75

Current James R. Crane

Stadium

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NOW SH ‘The Co OWING: mp

uter Sci-Fi Film S Communit eries is a y Collabor ation

By Kathy S

Lab’

trickland

Kylie Jacks, ’19, star of Episode 3, sits down to read the messages written on rocks in the memory jar from her mother’s funeral. Some rocks have a mysterious message.

Professor Emeritus Arthur Rennels retired this summer as chair of the School of Communication, History and Interdisciplinary Studies after 20 years at UCM. As part of his legacy, he leaves behind a project that grew from a seed he planted to give students the opportunity to create a film series. Students applied for the “Producing a Web Series” special topics project in spring of 2018, indicating which crew positions interested them, and production started that fall.

Actor and UCM instructor Aaron Scully races through an underground corridor on campus as professor Mark von Schlemmer directs.

One Theatre major and two Music Technology students enrolled; the rest were part of UCM’s Digital Media Production (DMP) program, where associate professors Mark von Schlemmer and Michael Graves collaborated to develop the concept for “The Computer Lab.” “Mark and I were both interested in sci-fi,” Graves says, hesitating to confine “The Computer Lab” to a genre while drawing parallels 12

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to shows like “Stranger Things,” “The Twilight Zone” and “Black Mirror.” “There’s an old adage: there’s the film you write, the film you shoot and the film you edit. We had the great fortune to work with amazingly talented student and faculty collaborators, who helped shape the world, characters and tone of ‘The Computer Lab’ into the version you see today.”

A 2020 Opportunity Grant from the UCM Alumni Foundation funded a Mac Pro, a powerful computer that can handle editing video shot in 4K, the industry standard. This and other Opportunity Grants are made possible by private contributions to the university’s unrestricted Central Annual Fund.

“The students got experience working extensively with 4K footage … and realized that takes twice as long to copy,” says von Schlemmer, who taught “Producing a Web Series” and applied for the grant.

“The night doesn’t end when you say cut; it ends when you get the terabytes of footage we just shot moved over to hard drives and backed up.”

Although the crew was primarily from the DMP program, the project involved talent from many disciplines at the university.

Students, faculty and alumni were cast in lead roles, and students in Graves’ film appreciation class played “extras” in the four-part series.

Graves, who wrote the screenplays based on stories that he and von Schlemmer conceptualized, says the storyline across episodes is loosely based on Plato’s allegory of the cave. Being colorblind, Graves knows he sees things differently than the majority of people and has always been intrigued with the distinction between reality and perception.

He made George Berkley’s “to be is to be perceived” a recurring phrase throughout the series.

Theatre and Dance instructor Aaron Scully, ’12 and ’14, stars as a troubled professor who is very much still “in the dark” in Episode 1, titled “Escape Velocity.” The office in the Martin Building that became the “computer lab” was designed to be cavelike with one bare light bulb hanging over the computer that the lead characters in all four episodes happened upon. To make the set look neglected and

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forgotten, the crew brought in a variety of vintage computers, including one that was used to find a record Mersenne prime number, one of four such discoveries made at UCM since 2005. With supplies donated

by OnPoint Contracting and pizza by Papa Murphy’s, students transformed the room that would become the hub connecting the self-contained but eerily conjoined episodes.

The Warrensburg Fire Department even joined in the action, with Terry Hill, Rusty Bond and Weston Farmer, ’13, bringing a fire truck out for a night scene.

Richard “Buzz” Herman, ’78, former UCM Theatre chair and namesake of the university’s Richard Herman Black Box Theatre, stars in Episode 2, “Night Blindness,” Richard “Buzz” Herman as a down-on-hisluck custodian trying to work his way back into his daughter’s life. Jennifer Renfrow, ’99, director of Center Stage Academy of the Performing Arts in Warrensburg, plays Herman’s estranged daughter. Renfrow studied under Buzz at UCM and says she had a great time performing with him off stage.

after her mother’s funeral, is played by Kylie Jacks, ’19, an English Language and Literature major who was enrolled in Graves’ screenwriting class.

Filming of the funeral took place at UCM’s Alumni Memorial Chapel, and Jack’s character is employed shelving books at James C. Kirkpatrick Library, where she worked in real life as a tutor in the Writing Center.

“Some scenes were right next to where I would go to work nearly every day,” says Jacks, who had never acted before being cast as the episode’s lead. “When I wasn’t fretting about forgetting my lines, I was truly in awe of production. I remember looking around during some of our sets and thinking it was so cool how production made something out of nothing. I also found it kind of exhilarating to pretend to be someone else, and to try my best to forget about the camera and the boom mic above my head.”

In one of Jacks’ favorite scenes, the camera remained stationary, peering through a gap between books on a shelf while she moved progressively farther away. Von Schlemmer, who directed and edited the episode, notes that books are good soundproofing and jokes that he owes an apology to librarians who may continue to find titles out of order.

Chris Moore, ’12 and ’19, was a graduate student in the Communication program when he took Graves’ screenwriting class and cowrote Episode 4, “Shadowplay,” which he also directed. In the allegory of the cave, this final episode would symbolize emergence after the lead character’s realization that what she’s been seeing has been merely shadows — that Noah Stump, a DMP student, holds the boom mic for actress Kylie Jacks, there is a whole reality beyond the cave. an English major, through the book shelves at JCK Library.

Renfrow arranged auditions through Center Stage to cast a child to play a younger version of the lead role in Episode 3, “Between and Betwixt.” The lead character, a woman who has an unexpected encounter

Moore’s wife, Natasha, ’12, ’18, stars in the episode as a philosophy professor who has a paranormal experience after being fired. This leads to an exploration of larger elements that have been in play

“The Computer Lab” episodes, screenplays and promotional materials have been featured in numerous national film festivals as well as in Canada, Romania, Australia and Vienna. Episode 4 won the “Best Experimental” award in the Feel the Reel International Film Festival, and a promotional poster (at right) designed by DMP major Ejuan (EJ) Henderson, ’19, was a semifinalist at the AltFF Alternative Film Festival. The website for the series was an official selection in DigiFest 2020 in the “Best Website” category. To watch, visit thecomputerlabseries.com or find it on YouTube. throughout the series, including the elusive turtle motif.

“When I came on I really wanted to direct, and it was everything I had hoped it would be; it fanned the flames,” Moore says of the experience. “From a student’s perspective, there’s a lot you can learn in a classroom, but only so much … this is the most on-hands learning you could do.”

When the four episodes are combined, the project equates to a feature-length film — quite an accomplishment for students and an experience they can take with them into their careers. This was a project that allowed students across various disciplines to work together toward a common achievement.

“We created something bigger and better than what we thought it would be,” von Schlemmer says. “Students now are getting more out of it than we even thought at the time. It’s a real-life example they can relate to and shows they can do it right here at UCM.”

Projects like “The Computer Lab” are made possible by gifts to the unrestricted Central Annual Fund. Thank you for enabling the UCM Alumni Foundation to award $40,000 worth of Opportunity Grants in fiscal year 2020.

Donate at ucmfoundation.org/give/mag.

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Moviemakers Share Talents, Experience With Students When the opportunity to make a film series on campus arose in 2018, Digital Media Production (DMP) associate professors Mark von Schlemmer and Michael Graves collaborated to enlist the help of their professional contacts and enrich the experience for their students.

After spring break this year, when UCM classes transitioned to a virtual environment, DMP professors jumped at the opportunity to bring those film professionals back as guest speakers in their Zoom classrooms.

Not only were students stuck at home but so were professionals working in cinema, Kevin Willmott who now had time to speak to classes about what the industry is like and how they got their start. When students could not physically go to the movies, the moviemakers came to them.

is Steve Fracol, who has worked as a steadicam operator on many Hollywood films and as director of photography on the ABC drama “Grey’s Anatomy.” Fracol came to campus to help with filming a particularly tricky scene in Episode 4 of “The Computer Lab” in spring 2019.

He returned via Zoom this spring to talk with students in von Schlemmer’s Steve Fracol narrative production class about working in the industry and making the big move to Los Angeles.

Michael Graves, professor of screenwriting and film history at UCM, brought in another LA film professional to compose the music behind “The Computer Lab.” Josh Foy, who has written scores for award-winning films “The Newest Pledge” and “(Romance) in the Digital Age,” created the score for episodes 2, 3 and ent 4, consulting with ud st ith w ys re t of Humph

One such professional is director and screenwriter Kevin Willmott, who won an Oscar with Spike Lee for the 2018 film “BlacKkKlansman.”

Willmott spoke to von Schlemmer’s semen dicam in the ba ea st a rs ea w ol narrative production class via Zoom ’Brien.

Steve Frac lan and Colin O ow N ch Za rs be this spring. The two have been friends crew mem since they met in the early 1990s when student director Chris Moore on the von Schlemmer was working on “Silhouettes,” a TV program final episode. UCM Music Technology showcasing artists in the Lawrence, Kansas, area. Willmott student Christian Murillo composed the submitted his film “Big Man” to the show, and soon they were score for Episode 1. Foy characterizes the working together on award-winning movies. Von Schlemmer tone of the series as “ ‘The Twilight Zone’ even took a few courses with Willmott while earning his Ph.D. with a heart.” in film and media studies at the University of Kansas. Their latest collaboration, a historical documentary titled “William In the midst of an ambitious project Allen White: What’s the Matter With Kansas,” aired on PBS that had never before been attempted at Josh Foy stations this fall.

UCM, and at a more recent time when students could no longer work together as a crew, cinema Richard “Buzz” Herman, a 1978 UCM alumnus and former professionals shared their time and talents with future filmmakers.

UCM Theatre chair, was a professor at Marymount This is just one example of the future-focused, real-world College in Salina, Kansas, when Willmott was experience that gives UCM students a competitive edge in a an undergraduate there studying drama. Both tough but rewarding industry.

Willmott and Herman made appearances in “The Computer Lab” series — Herman You don’t have to be a celebrity to volunteer your time and make played the lead role in Episode 2, and a direct impact on students at UCM. We are always looking for Willmott gave a cameo performance as professionals to engage with students via virtual classroom visits, “The Futurist” in Episode 3.

Another film professional von Schlemmer invited to help on “The Computer Lab” series 14

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practice interviews, mentoring and more. To share your expertise, visit ucmfoundation.org/volunteer.

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UCM Alumna Stars in Documentary Exploring the ‘Illusion of Normal’ When the coronavirus hit home this spring and people found themselves closing their business doors, working from home or out of work, daily routines were obliterated.

After a month or so, people started wondering when things would return to “normal.” After another month, conversation shifted to “the new normal.”

When efforts to reopen backfired in many regions and the end of the virus was still nowhere in sight, people began to question what “normal” even meant anymore.

States and counties tried to define it in policy, while school districts and universities prepared for varying levels of “normalcy” as the fall semester approached.

One person who had already gone through this process of questioning “what is normal” is independent filmmaker Kurt Neale, who produced the documentary “Normie.”

In 2016 a couple close to Neale gave birth to a daughter with Down syndrome.

The following year, good friends of his welcomed home their daughter,

Annemarie Carrigan, who also has Down syndrome and had just graduated from the University of Central Missouri’s THRIVE program.

“For both families, future obstacles seemed big and external,” says Neale. “But as I pulled back the layers, deeper existential questions birthed from sincere pain, loneliness and fear were revealed. … In ‘Normie’ that question is: What gives a person value? Or, better yet, what gives you value?”

Carrigan is a 2017 graduate of UCM’s THRIVE, a two-year program that expands opportunities for students with disabilities so they can live more independent lives. As the program celebrated a decade of service in 2020, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) contributed a generous $100,000 to the THRIVE Student Success Fund. The gift goes toward scholarships for students like Carrigan who meet financial need criteria.

“When I think of Annemarie, I think of many of our students with special needs,” says Michael Brunkhorst, ’92, ’05, director of UCM’s THRIVE program. “They each want to do what every other young adult wants to do; they don’t want to be considered different. They each deserve the chance to be the best person that they can be in their own way. Each is capable of much more than what most people believe.”

Carrigan focused her studies on journalism and wrote articles for The Muleskinner in her second year at UCM. Upon returning to her hometown of Dallas, Texas, she landed an internship with Neale, and neither of them

realized at the time that she would become the star of the show.

From the beginning, “Normie” sought to explore the “illusion of normal” through the lens of Down syndrome, but it wasn’t until post-production that they decided to tell the story through Carrigan’s journey of self-discovery as she traveled with the crew to six cities making the documentary.

“My favorite scene in ‘Normie’ is when I finally tell the truth about what I have been experiencing in my life — that I was fighting loneliness,” Carrigan says. “It felt great to tell the truth. I really want to help people who are fighting loneliness too.”

Since the film was released in 2019, Carrigan has landed her “dream job” in editorial support at Dupree Miller and Associates, a global literary agency for best-selling authors and celebrities. She also has been featured in a “Delivering Jobs” public service announcement, part of an inclusion campaign from the Entertainment Industry Foundation in partnership with Autism Speaks, Best Buddies and Special Olympics. “Delivering Jobs” is designed to create pathways to 1 million employment and leadership opportunities for people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other intellectual and developmental differences by 2025.

To contribute to the THRIVE Student Success Fund, visit ucmfoundation.org/give/thrive.

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STUDENT MUSICIANS TO ENJOY NEW UNIFORMS, PRACTICE ROOMS

T

hank you to the generous donors who helped the UCM Marching Mules purchase new uniforms.

Donors who sponsored a uniform, which cost $600 each, got to select a message to have embroidered inside the jacket. Meeting one of the university’s greatest needs, those who gave $1,000 or more became members of UCM’s 1871 Society. The total cost of the new uniforms exceeded $200,000.

the CAHSS also matched an additional $50,000 in private donations from alumni and friends.

One anonymous donor contributed $50,000 to the cause, and this gift was matched by UCM Academic Affairs in partnership with the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) to secure $100,000 toward a new look for the Marching Mules. Academic Affairs and

“We are grateful for all of our donors and supporters for the opportunity to outfit the Marching Mules in a classic but innovative uniform design,” says Anthony Pursell, director of bands and associate professor of music. “Not only will we sound good, but we will also look good.”

The Marching Mules had been wearing their old uniforms for 13 seasons, which was well past their life expectancy. The new uniforms feature advancements in fabric and design technology that eliminate many of the heat-related concerns of the past.

Music students are also excited about renovated practice rooms featuring new doors with better soundproofing, acoustic absorber packages for the walls, custom artwork and a fresh coat of paint. Each room will have a unique theme, featuring images of a famous musician. Donors will be recognized with a plaque on the inside of the room.

One anonymous donor contributed $40,000 to complete one-third of the renovation project. On the bottom floor of the Paul R. Utt Building, there are 36 rooms to renovate — two large, eight medium and 26 small.

MA R CHI NG T HROUGH THE YEAR S

New Marching Mules look

Please call 660-543-8000 or email giving@ucmo.edu if you are interested in sponsoring a practice room renovation.

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2020 A N N UA L R E P O RT

BLACK & VEATCH AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS, FUNDS CAREER SERVICES LIBRARY

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lack & Veatch, based in Overland Park, Kansas, has established a new scholarship for the 2020–2021 academic year, awarding $36,000 per year to UCM for the next four years. The first of the annual awards have been made to three UCM students pursuing Engineering Technology degrees: Luke Manning of Clinton, Kevin Albor of Kansas City and Anthony Blanchette of Oak Grove.

Each scholarship awardee will have access to exclusive internship opportunities with Black & Veatch to help develop innovative solutions for its growing Power business, which serves the power transmission, renewable generation, conventional generation and distributed energy markets.

The business ranks No. 1 in the nation for solar-power services, No. 3 for transmission and distribution, and No. 7 for wind-power services, according to Engineering News-Record’s latest Sourcebook.

UCM was selected, along with three other higher education institutions, for its track record in “delivering qualified, aspiring design technology and technician candidates who can support the company’s global transmission needs.”

“It’s through this track record of performance that Black & Veatch was interested in increasing the pipeline of students from UCM,” says Kevin Ludwig, associate vice president and global transmission technology portfolio manager for Black & Veatch. “We believe there are significant opportunities for Black & Veatch and UCM to ensure that educational content in the Engineering Technology program remains relevant in an ever-changing marketplace as the pace of technological change continues to advance.”

From left, UCM Engineering Technology students Anthony Blanchette, Luke Manning and Kevin Albor are the first recipients of a new Black & Veatch scholarship.

“Growing up in the Kansas City area, I have always been familiar with Black & Veatch’s innovative solutions for the needs of not only my community but the world,” Blanchette wrote in his thank-you letter. Like the other three scholarship awardees, Blanchette is concentrating his studies in the areas of robotics, automation and controls.

In addition to the engineering technology scholarships, Black & Veatch is donating to Phase 2 of UCM’s Career Services Library project. The project will expand the Career Services Center’s technological capabilities to better facilitate career readiness initiatives.

Students and alumni will be able to virtually connect with employers and opportunities through new digital interviewing and meeting equipment.

“Through their corporate generosity, Black & Veatch is creating a win-win situation by providing students with the financial resources they need to pursue their educational goals, while also helping to grow the number of qualified UCM graduates who will be able to help fill vital technology roles in their industry,” says Alice Greife, dean of UCM’s College of Health, Science and Technology. “We’re very excited about what this means for our students.”

What were you passionate about during your time at the University of Central Missouri? Donations to the unrestricted Central Annual Fund enable futurefocused, engaged learning to continue on campus and online. Donate today at ucmfoundation.org/give/mag.

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Thank You for Your Support!

Sources of Gifts In fiscal year 2020, the UCM Alumni Foundation received $7,312,153 in gifts and pledges. Generous alumni contributed 40% of those gifts, totaling $2.89 million.

FOUNDATIONS AND TRUSTS $2,122,243 29%

Your Support In a challenging year, alumni and friends of the University of Central Missouri stepped up with crucial support. The UCM Alumni Foundation was established to cultivate and manage the private funds that are essential for the university to continue providing a high-quality education to all who seek it.

$179,873 donated to the Central Annual Fund supporting UCM’s greatest needs

80mil

975 students receiving UCM Alumni Foundation scholarships during the 2019–2020 academic year, with $1,145,927 provided

60mil

$2,416,189 in contributions to capital projects,

40mil

a year-over-year increase of 210%

14,678 total gifts

20mil

0

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$67,063,134

over the previous year

Your generosity in fiscal year 2020 continued unabated, as did the hard work of UCM Alumni Foundation staff members who support your philanthropic endeavors. As of June 30, 2020, total assets under management stood at more than $67 million, which reflects a growth of 29% over the past five years.

Total Assets

$63,873,482

$7,312,153 in gifts and pledges, a 16% increase

Total Assets

$58,760,045

In this fiscal year 2020 annual report, the UCM Alumni Foundation is proud to recognize:

BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS FRIENDS $1,372,898 $921,902 19% 12%

$55,949,840

For 150 years this institution has transformed the lives of thousands of degree earners through meaningful studentfaculty interaction, innovative learning environments, personalized academic support and a one-of-a-kind student experience in a caring community that values diversity. Thank you for making an investment in these students as they embark on their careers and carry with them a spirit of service that validates UCM’s legacy of excellence.

ALUMNI $2,895,110 40%

$51,968,638

$7.3M IN GIFTS AND PLEDGES 6,689 GENEROUS DONORS

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2020 A N N UA L RFEEPAT O RT URE

Endowment Payout

Rate of Return

Managing endowment spending, a critical factor in maintaining value over time, is vested in the Finance Committee of the UCM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors.

Each year, the committee approves a level of spending based on a rolling 12-quarter average market, cushioning the payout from volatility in the financial markets. The committee exercises prudence in achieving a healthy balance between preserving long-term assets and spending for current operations.

An endowment is accounted for using a unitized pool. Each individual endowment fund owns units in the pool, revalued at the end of each month. New endowments may enter the pool at month-end periods, using a FIXED INCOME month-end value of a unit. New endowments $12,715,850 “buy into” and receive a certain number of DOMESTIC 27% units in the pool based on the amount invested EQUITIES and the value of a unit on the buy-in date. $22,849,029 INTERNATIONAL 48% The UCM Alumni Foundation receives EQUITIES statements every month from its investment $4,111,764 9% managers and, using these statements, ALTERNATIVE calculates the current market value per share CASH VALUE $3,653,818 by dividing the total market value of the 8% $3,917,991 investment pool by the total number of shares.

8% Every endowment in the pool owns shares, and once an endowment has been in the pool for a minimum of six months, it receives an annual Asset classes comprising the endowment payout. Using the spending rate approved by portfolio are essential for generating the Board of Directors, the payout is calculated sustainable returns while managing risk. and allocated based on the shares owned.

Active long-term investment returns are The distribution is made to a corresponding best produced by maintaining a consistent expendable account used for the purpose investment philosophy and process. The specified by the donor. For FY20, over $1.46 need to provide resources for current million was approved for the payout.

Endowment Payout operations and preserve the purchasing

Although the investment return of 3.4% for FY20 was 2.4% below the year’s benchmark of 5.8%, average annualized returns since inception align with the overall benchmark of 7%.

The UCM Alumni Foundation’s goal is to manage endowment funds in a manner satisfying current needs while ensuring the same level of support is available for future generations. Preserving this intergenerational equity requires generating a rate of return sufficient to maintain the purchasing power of the endowment after taking into consideration annual distributions and the effects of inflation.

2018

2019

2020

There are 552 endowment funds managed by the UCM Alumni Foundation with a variety of designated purposes and restrictions.

Approximately 93% of funds constitute true endowments or gifts restricted by donors to provide long-term funding for designated purposes. The remaining 7% represent monies or quasi-endowments the UCM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors chooses to invest and treat as endowments.

power of assets dictates investment for high returns, causing the endowment to be biased toward equity. In addition, vulnerability to inflation further directs the endowment away from fixed income and toward equity investments.

Over the long term, the UCM Alumni Foundation’s absolute objective is to achieve a total return that meets or exceeds the university’s tuition inflation rate plus the total spending rate. The relative objective is to achieve a total return that meets or exceeds a combined benchmark of appropriate capital market indices.

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

0

$ 1,464,585

2017

$47,248,453

2016

$46,510,267

0

$42,590,183

10mil

$40,125,195

20mil

$36,309,475

30mil

$ 1,424,522

40mil

$ 1,401,843

50mil

$ 1,300,240

The fundamental purpose of the UCM Alumni Foundation’s endowment is to support the university’s core academic mission by supplying a growing source of scholarship and programmatic funding.

Increasing the value of the endowment over time is critical to ensuring that a steady source of income will maintain purchasing power to provide the same benefit to students in the future as it does today. Over the past five years, the market value of the endowments has Endowment Market Value seen a growth of 30%.

Endowment Investment Allocation

$1,165,315

Endowment Market Value

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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Student Hardship Fund As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many University of Central Missouri students found themselves facing job loss, food insecurity and a variety of other challenges. The UCM Alumni Foundation and campus partners responded quickly to establish the “In This Together: Student Hardship Fund.”

A group of generous alumni immediately stepped up to match $16,000 in gifts to this emergency fund (see their names on page 11).

Others responded to meet that goal on May 4 during Giving Tuesday Now, a movement to raise money when relief was needed most instead of waiting for the traditional Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

When news of the Student Hardship Fund spread across campus, applications started pouring in from students.

The UCM Alumni Foundation received 276 applications requesting more than $273,000 in assistance.

So far, $52,215 has been awarded to 66 students, and more will be awarded as gifts are received from generous alumni and friends of the university.

R E H T E G O T S I H T

Here are a few of those students’ stories.

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Ibrahim Alageel Natasha Holtzclaw Natalee Irvin According to an EducationData.org survey, 49% of undergraduates enrolled in college when the pandemic hit home indicated their families’ financial situation had been affected by COVID-19.

Natalee Irvin, a junior majoring in Child and Family Development, is one such student. A loss in her family left them struggling financially and unsure whether they would be able to continue paying her tuition.

“I cannot tell you how grateful my family and I are for your generosity,” Irvin wrote. “And I can only hope that in the future, should we encounter such times again, that students will have the opportunity I had to aid them during difficult times.”

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A single mother of three, nontraditional student Natasha Holtzclaw found herself out of work when the pandemic began to affect local communities.

Her youngest child, now 2 years old, has a visual impairment and respiratory issues. Because of this, she withdrew him from day care to minimize his risk of infection. Even though he was not attending, Holtzclaw was required to continue paying the monthly fee to keep his spot. She also had a number of medical bills to pay.

“The emergency fund helped support my three kids as they watched me try to set the best example for them I could in this trying time,” wrote Holtzclaw, who is majoring in Political Science. “I am grateful but not surprised; Mules and Jennies have always found a way to take care of each other. … Thank you from not only my family but from Mules and Jennies everywhere for your support.”

Fall 2020 | ucmfoundation.org/magazine

Ibrahim Alageel was an international graduate student from Saudi Arabia when the pandemic struck. His oldest brother had been paying out of pocket for his tuition but found himself less financially stable as a result of the pandemic. Alageel’s brother even took out a loan to help with spring semester tuition, but there were other expenses that needed to be paid.

When learning at UCM transitioned after spring break to a virtual environment, Alageel was in need of a laptop to complete his coursework. He and his wife also had to continue to pay rent for their apartment, despite the fact that they no longer had an income. With generous donor assistance from the Student Hardship Fund, Alageel earned his master’s in Industrial Management, his second UCM degree after completing a bachelor’s in Occupational Safety and Management.

“I love the community here,” he wrote. “I have always felt supported and cared for at UCM. … I hope one day I can give back to UCM for all the education, support and comfort the university has offered me.”

2020 A N N UA L R E P O RT

PRESIDENTIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE

Nico Philipp Brianna Dixon Brianna Dixon is a senior earning her degree in Sociology with a minor in Africana Studies. She was forced to move after losing her on-campus job and worried about being able to pay tuition to graduate as planned. This is Dixon’s last semester at UCM, and she is taking 18 credit hours in order to graduate with the Class of 2020. In addition to her course load, she is applying to law schools and preparing for her entrance exams.

“Thanks to your generosity, I am able to focus on my education and lighten my financial burden,” Dixon wrote. “Your kindness has inspired me to help others and give back to my community. I hope that one day I am able to assist students in their educational endeavors just as you have helped me.”

As a first-generation student, Dixon says it is especially important to her and her family that she earn her degree.

“It really means a lot that I am here, and it really means a lot that there are people who care and want to see me make it to that finish line.”

Many students are still in need of emergency assistance. Please consider making a donation to the “In This Together: Student Hardship Fund” at ucmfoundation.org/give/mag.

Nico Philipp is one of many international students who lost their on-campus employment due to the pandemic and found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place — prohibited from working elsewhere and ineligible for federal work study.

Philipp was paying out-of-state tuition from money he had saved up before moving to Warrensburg, Missouri, from Nuremberg, Germany. A Kinesiology Exercise Science major, he was employed as a personal trainer at the UCM Student Recreation and Wellness Center. He depended on the income from this job to pay for rent, groceries and other necessities.

Philipp had an internship lined up at the University of Minnesota this summer under one of the most renowned strength and conditioning coaches in the country. He had made a down payment on an apartment there and could no longer move or take the internship. The Student Hardship Fund award not only helped him graduate in May but also kept him on track for a bright future. He is now a graduate student at UCM, earning his master’s in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Biomechanics.

When UCM President Roger J. Best, Ph.D., was inaugurated April 18, 2019, the UCM Alumni Foundation Board of Directors established the first-ever Presidential Endowed Scholarship.

The call was for alumni, friends and “everyone who cares about our university” to invest in one outstanding incoming freshman each year.

The first award was made in fall 2020 to Valorie Slack, who graduated salutatorian of her class at Holden High School. A four-time All-State Academic Award recipient, she was also vice president of her senior class and vice president of the National Honor Society in her senior year.

Slack is not only a high academic achiever but also a star athlete. In high school she was involved in basketball, track and cross country. Her basketball team won the KMZU Academic Dream Team Award, and Valorie Slack she earned the All-State Individual award twice in track and three times in cross country. She now runs cross country and track at UCM. When researching UCM and touring campus, this first-generation student was impressed with the Radiologic Technology program and plans to become a radiographer. As a volunteer for Special Olympics, she understands the power of giving and hopes to be able to give back to the university after she launches her career.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity,” Slack wrote in a letter thanking donors. “I strive to better myself every day, and this scholarship will allow me to do so. ... I am very excited to be a Jennie!”

So far the Presidential Endowed Scholarship has secured more than $135,000. The annual scholarship awards come solely from the interest the fund accrues, which secures donors’ investment for years to come.

Slack will receive this renewable scholarship for four years. Each year another freshman will be selected until four students are continually receiving the scholarship annually.

Make a direct impact on a deserving student’s life by making your contribution today at ucmfoundation.org/president.

University of Central Missouri Magazine

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