East Alabama Living Spring 2022 Issue

University Club
BY ANN CIPPERLY
As the University Club celebrates its 75th birthday, members recently
celebrated with an elegant dinner at the Auburn University President’s
Mansion, hosted by President and Mrs. Jay Gogue. While the University
Club started as a social club for Auburn University faculty and spouses, it
is now a social and philanthropic club open to all alumni, supporters, and
friends of Auburn University. It has grown to 237 members.
Meri Pylant, vice president of the University Club, thanked the Gogues for
inviting members to the dinner in the beautiful setting. In addition, the
2021-2022 University Club officers and board members were recognized,
and the president, Lee English, was thanked for the work behind the
scenes for the club.
The program was then turned over to Lee English to speak about the
club’s philanthropic effort.
“ In 2010, the University Club of Auburn started a scholarship program to
aid and relieve some of the financial burden students face,” said Lee. “As
the fund continues to grow, so will the amount we will be able to award
to Auburn University students. We want to continue to make a significant
impact in the next 75 years.
“Each year since 2010, the University Club of Auburn awards a scholarship
to two deserving students in the amount of $2,000 each. It is a fouryear
scholarship awarded to two qualified incoming first-year students.
The scholarship follows them until graduation as long as they remain
in good standing. The requirements for this scholarship are a minimum
ACT score of 28 and a minimum GPA of 3.25. These scholarships are
designed to help ease the financial burdens of these students while pursuing
their dreams and passions at our beloved Auburn University.
“While the officers and board elected to suspend our yearly scholarship
fundraising efforts in 2020 due to Covid,” Lee added, “this past
September, we resumed fundraising and held our annual fundraiser at
the home of Mary Ann Stiles and Craig Wahlberg. Due to the exceptional
fundraising skills of Mary Ann, and participation from so many club
members, we were able to raise $4,100 that night. We paired those funds
with $2,100 that came from a portion member’s dues for a total of $6,200.”
The fundraising efforts by Mary Ann and Craig were made in memory
of Mrs. Lee Cannon. Mrs. Cannon and Mary Ann were friends for
many years. Mrs. Cannon was also a member and former leader of the
University Club.
The two recipients of the University Club of Auburn scholarship for the
2021-2022 school year are Alex Bailey and Ella Taylor, incoming freshmen.
Alex is from Helena and is majoring in pre-mechanical engineering. Ella
is from Madison and is majoring in animal sciences and pre-vet.
Officers of the University Club are president, Lee English; vice president,
Meri Pylant; treasurer, Sylvester Williamson; and secretary, Suellyn Coker.
Board members: are Jeannie Burt, Will Faulkner, Chuck Flores, Emilie
Johnson, Ladene Mangum, Kaye Lomax, Jeanee Snowden, Dawn Shiffer,
and Wendy Barber.
EAST ALABAMA LIVING
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