It’s not unusual to hear of faculty members contributing
financially to the institution where they work. More than 90% of Union
faculty give to the university on an annual basis. What is gratifying is
to recognize two faculty members from related disciplines who have
contributed for as long as they have served the university. Both chemistry
professor Charles Baldwin and his wife Janice, and biology professor Elsie
Smith (’60) and her husband Bill, have been consistent financial
supporters of Union throughout their tenure at the university – almost 25
years for Dr. Baldwin and nearly 40 for Professor Smith.
“It’s an incredible testimony given by the support Union receives from faculty,” says Bob Alsobrook, senior vice president for institutional advancement, “because it shows so profoundly to the community at large the endorsement of the vision for the university and encourages others to do likewise.” Both couples have several things in common. Each has been married for more than 35 years. Dr. Baldwin and Professor Smith both say that their spouses are two of Union’s best recruiters. They also see a great importance in giving back for education’s sake, particularly to Union. When the dream of moving to a new campus was being formulated in the early seventies, Dr. Baldwin says he embraced the idea of giving back. “I thought that if such a project weren’t supported by those who were investing their lives in Union – how could we go to others and ask for their support?” “So many people on the faculty at Union took a personal interest in me and encouraged me when I was a student,” remembers Professor Smith. “I’ve always felt that I would never be able to do enough to repay all of those people for what they did for me, but one way to do it was to contribute financially and help struggling students stay at Union and finish their degree. So all that we’ve done is just my way of saying “thank you” to people who played some major roles in my life.” It is the idea of giving back that the Smiths have tried to pass on to others, a condition they have made when helping to assist students who are struggling financially to complete their degree. “We ask that the students who receive these scholarships not know where the money comes from, but that they will be encouraged to help someone else out when they get to a point later in life where they can,” she explains.
Though they have no children of their own, the Smiths enjoy hosting groups of students in their homes, usually biology and pre-med majors, talking and drinking coffee into the wee hours of the morning around their dinner table. “Union students are definitely a cut above the average,” says Mr. Smith, who enjoys visiting with the students and looks forward to the discussions that take place. The Baldwins also value their relationships with Union students, particularly in the chemistry area, and support many activities directly and indirectly benefiting students such as the annual Scholarship Banquet, Union Forum, June White chemistry scholar-ship and the Art Associates program. “If you look at Union graduates and what they’re doing and how they’re affecting the world, you realize what a good use your money goes towards – including the good investment for Kingdom causes,” says Janice Baldwin. “Both the Baldwins and the Smiths represent some of Union’s most loyal and supportive friends who support the university in any number of ways – not only through their teaching responsibilities but through their concern for all of those, particularly the students, who are part of the Union family,” adds Alsobrook. “Every week you encounter students who are working two to three jobs to come to Union,” says Dr. Baldwin. “Even the tuition is subsidized 40% by the gifts of someone else. Christian stewardship requires the involvement of those of us who have the ability to give.” |
