Fall 2007 - Giving to MSU - Michigan State University

DEVELOPMENTS
BURKHARDT AND GILSTAD CREATE CHAIR
IN RAILWAY MANAGEMENT
E
dward A. Burkhardt of Chicago and
Dennis J. Gilstad of Fenton, Michigan,
have pledged gifts to Michigan State
University to create an endowment
that supports a faculty position for rail and transportation
studies. Burkhardt plans to give at least
$4,000,000, and Gilstad plans to give at least
$1,000,000 to fund the Edward A. Burkhardt
Chair in Railway Management in the College of
Social Science.
Edward Burkhardt’s career in the rail sector
spans over 40 years with substantial experience in
all aspects of rail management. He is the founder,
president and CEO of Rail World, Inc., Rail
World Holdings LLC and Earlston Associates
L.P. Previously, Burkhardt founded Wisconsin
Central Transportation Corporation where he
served as chairman, president and CEO, and
spent over 25 years with several Class I railroads
in the United States including 20 years with
Chicago & North Western Transportation
Corporation.
Burkhardt holds a bachelor of science degree
with honors in Industrial Administration from
Yale University and studied Rail Administration
at the Yale University Program in Transportation.
Railway Age magazine named him “Railwayman
of the Year” in March 1999 and later that year
voted him one of the 16 “Railwaymen of the
Century.”
Dennis Gilstad is the founder and CEO of
FCM Rail, Ltd., a railroad equipment and financial
services company based in Fenton. He has
been a leader in the process of assessing the needs
of the railroad industry and developing a program
that meets those needs.
“I think I can speak for both Dennis and me
when I say it is our desire that Michigan State
University become the leading provider of academic
and executive development training for the
rail and transportation industry,” Burkhardt said.
“The holder of the Burkhardt Chair will serve as
the academic leader in developing the executive
program, scholarship and research for the Rail
and Transportation Studies Program at MSU.”
The rail industry has been vital to passenger
and freight transportation for over 200 years and
remains a leader in cutting-edge transportation
technology and service delivery. As the rail industry
responds to the increasing requirements of
global markets, the need to provide educational
opportunities for the future executive leadership
of the rail and transportation industry is strong.
“The Rail and Transportation Studies Program
will provide a multi-disciplinary curriculum of
instruction and research to keep the rail and
transportation field on the leading edge,”
explained College of Social Science Dean
Marietta Baba. “The results of such research will
not only be incorporated in the instruction of the
program, but also will be disseminated throughout
the rail and transport professions. The leadership
gifts provided by Edward Burkhardt and Dennis
Gilstad will allow us to design an academic center
Edward A. Burkhardt
of excellence for training and developing the rail
and transportation executives of tomorrow.”
If you would like more information on supporting
the Rail and Transportation Studies Program or
any other area of the College of Social Science,
contact Senior Director of Development Sarah Blom
at (517) 432-1802 or blom@msu.edu.
New Fund Supports Locally Performed Classical Music On WKAR
I
n the summer of 2007, Sarah Winans
Newman decided to pledge $50,000 to
create an endowment with WKAR to
support the broadcast of classical performances
by musicians in the Mid-Michigan region.
Sarah was inspired to make such a gift because she
feels the need “to increase awareness of the richness
of regional music talent and the dedication of professionals
who produce classical music for our
communities.”
Sarah, a retired professor from the Medical
School of the University of Michigan, first began
supporting WKAR in 1989 with a donation of
$100 to the radio station. Over the years, she continued
to support the station on an annual basis. As
Sarah grew closer to retirement and her financial
means enabled her to make a larger gift, she decided
to do more for the station and community.
Named after her mother, a retired math and science
teacher, the fund is known as the Marian
Aldrich Schilling Endowment, and it is a testament
to how much a parent can influence their child’s life.
Marian inspired Sarah’s fascination with biology
and her love of teaching, and she has also encouraged,
supported and shared Sarah’s lifelong enjoyment
of classical music.
“WKAR actively worked with me to develop my
ideas and goals into programming reality,” Sarah
said. “My intent is to recognize and give a wider
voice to the dedicated professionals and amateurs
who perform classical music in our communities. I
want to encourage our many talented residents of
central and southeastern Michigan to discover the
joy of performing in a local choir, orchestra or concert
band.”
Sarah Newman and her mother, Marian Aldrich Schilling,
for whom the endowment is named in honor.
The Marian Aldrich Schilling Endowment
comes at an exciting time for WKAR and public
broadcasting. With the availability of satellite radio,
listeners have more music options than ever before.
WKAR has been responding to this competition
by tying programming to the local community
whenever possible. In part, this is done with live
local hosts during the weekdays and Saturday and
Sunday evenings. In addition, WKAR airs performances
from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
Lansing Symphony Orchestra and MSU’s College
of Music.
Sarah’s gift will enable WKAR to continue to
air these recordings as well as to include works
from other area symphonies as well as the
University of Michigan’s School of Music. Sarah’s
generosity has already enabled the station to conduct
a summer music series comprised of works
performed by the Lansing Symphony Orchestra
and the MSU College of Music.
“In my experience, WKAR as an organization is
open to exploring ideas for expanding educational
and cultural programming in new directions,”
Sarah explained. “If you have a passion for a particular
educational or cultural activity that could be
developed into radio or television programming,
and you are willing to contribute financially to
make your idea a reality, talk to the WKAR staff.
You might be delighted to find how easy it is to
make a difference!”
For information on contributing to the Marian Aldrich
Schilling Endowment or any other area of WKAR TV
and Radio, contact major gifts officer Seth Martin at
(517) 432-3120, ext. 362 or via email at
Seth@wkar.org.
www.givingto.msu.edu
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