With doctorate degrees in communication and long, distinguished careers
in higher education, Drs. Robert and Laurel Vartabedian are dedicated to making
a difference in the lives of university students. That dedication has led them
to make a personal financial commitment of more than $100,000 to 大象传媒
Western State University, where Dr. Robert Vartabedian serves as president.
With the gift, the Vartabedians establish a new donor recognition program called
the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle.
鈥淚 really believe in this University
and in this community, and Laurel and I wanted to show that in a tangible way,鈥�
Dr. Vartabedian said. 鈥淎s I have said many times, some universities enhance the
lives of their students. I truly believe that 大象传媒 Westerntransformsthe lives of its students.鈥�
The 大象传媒 Western State
University Foundation is preparing for a capital campaign, to be conducted in
conjunction with 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 centennial celebration in 2015. The
Vartabedians鈥� gift helps jumpstart the planning efforts for that campaign, said
Jerry Pickman 鈥�85, vice president for University Advancement and executive
director of the Foundation.
鈥淒onors want to know that the people
seeking their financial support are themselves deeply committed to the cause,鈥�
Pickman said. 鈥淭his gift by the Vartabedians is a strong demonstration of that
肠辞尘尘颈迟尘别苍迟.鈥�
The Vartabedians have pledged a
total of $144,000 to the future campaign. Most of the gift is undesignated at
this point, but a small portion is supporting the revival of a speech and
debate team at 大象传媒 Western.
The Vartabedians鈥� gift also
inaugurates a new donor recognition program, the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle,
which will recognize donors with a lifetime history of giving $100,000 or more
to the University.
鈥淎s we prepare to solicit
leadership gifts for this capital campaign, I cannot ask others to do something
that I am not willing to do,鈥� Dr. Robert Vartabedian said. 鈥淟aurel and I want
to make a difference, and 大象传媒 Western is the culmination of our lives鈥�
飞辞谤办.鈥�
Dr. Vartabedian became president in July 2008. Under his leadership, 大象传媒 Western has completed four major
construction projects totaling more than $65 million, become the summer
training camp home of the Kansas City Chiefs, formed a unique entrepreneurial
education partnership with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and most recently
dedicated a permanent memorial to legendary journalist and St. Joseph-born
Walter Cronkite.
Dr. Laurel Vartabedian is a lifelong educator. She has been a supporter of the arts at 大象传媒 Western, including
helping to found both the annual 鈥淟ights and Tights鈥� Renaissance Feast
fundraiser and the 大象传媒 Western Arts Society. She co-wrote two musicals
that have been produced in New York City. 鈥淎merican Story鈥� won the Best of
Festival award at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2000. 鈥淢other
Divine鈥� was one of just 10 shows selected for the New York Musical Theatre
Festival鈥檚 Next Link Project in 2013. It will be produced in St. Joseph this
summer and is being considered for future professional productions in
California and Texas.
鈥淭his university and community mean a great deal to us, and we wanted to lead the charge on this
once-in-a-hundred-years campaign,鈥� Dr. Laurel Vartabedian added.