Lake Erie College Honors Top Donors at Celebration

Lake Erie College honored the generosity of its most committed donors at its Donors of Distinction event on Dec. 4, 2022.

At the event, the College inducted six members into its Tower Society, a giving society recognizing donors who have cumulatively given $1 million and greater to the College. The Society is named after the well-known tower of College Hall on the Lake Erie College campus, which housed the College’s student leaders for many years.

Inductees included:

Dana and Sherry Dennis ’76/’03

Sue (Schoedinger) Ellis ’59, ’87

The Lincoln Family, represented by Cathy Lincoln ’78

Gretchen Reed

The Marion G. Resch Foundation, represented by Stephanie Shaw, executive director

Nancy Stillwagon ’70

Over the course of its 166 years, 33 individuals and organizations each have made cumulative contributions of $1 million and greater to the College. These donors (listed below) include Sunday’s inductees and comprise total membership in the Tower Society.

“The impact of these transformational gifts has touched generations of Lake Erie College students and helped ensure the College continues to grow and flourish, now and forever,” stated Lake Erie College President Brian D. Posler, Ph.D. “From funding scholarships and capital improvements, to growing the endowment, the generosity and giving of our Tower Society members has changed the face of Lake Erie College and we are incredibly thankful for their support.”

Lake Erie College is in the midst of a $40 million comprehensive fundraising effort, Now & Forever, the Campaign for Lake Erie College, which to date yielded gifts and pledges of more than $17.5 million. Now & Forever focuses on four key areas, including student recruitment efforts, the student experience, academic initiatives and campus improvements. The campaign builds on last year’s successful fundraising efforts, which resulted in a record-breaking $9 million raised for College initiatives. Learn more about the campaign at here.

Tower Society Members:

Joanne Bhatta

The Anne Kilcawley Christman ’33 Charitable Fund

Wayne-Dorothy Davis

Dana and Sharon Dennis ’76/’03

The M.R., Lilly P. and Mary Dickey Memorial Fund

Tracy H. Dickinson ’78

Sue (Schoedinger) Ellis ’59, ’87

Fred W. Fields

Mary-Jean (Martin) Hanson ’70

William Irrgang

Sunny (Corning) and Ted Jones

Jane W. Lincoln

Lincoln Electric

The Lincoln Family

Ella (Schulz) Lynn ’36

The Charles R. Morley Trust

Carol (Lewis) and Robert Morris ’67

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges

Jerome, Sr. and Mary Ann Osborne

Stephen and Felicia Perry ’78/--

The Edward W. and Alice R. Powers Higher Educational Fund

Jane Rakestraw ’69

Gretchen Reed

The Reinberger Foundation

The Marion G. Resch Foundation

Deborah (Goodrich) and Chuck Royce ’80

Harry Smith

Nancy Stillwagon ’70

The Storrs Fund of the Cleveland Foundation

May (Collacott) and Robert Targett

Drs. Jack and Susan Turben

The Jane D. White Fund of the Cleveland Foundation

The M.J. Zahniser ’35 Memorial Trust