July 18, 2007

Dear 1967 BGSU Classmates,

“In 1872, John Henry Cardinal Newman wrote that a true university is ‘a place where inquiry is pushed forward, and discoveries verified and perfected, and rashness rendered innocuous, and error exposed, by the collision of mind with mind, and knowledge with knowledge.’ Testing boundaries, asking questions, and challenging assumptions is in some sense what we could call knowledge entrepreneurship, the imperative we expect from universities and those who participate in entrepreneurial capitalism.”

“The Entrepreneurial Imperative, How America’s Economic Miracle will shape the World (and Change Your Life)”
Carl J. Schramm, President, The Kauffman Foundation

The above quote reflects the primary reason my wife Judy (Gerwig ’69) and I, along with the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, are offering a challenge grant for the 1967 Class Gift to our Alma Mater in celebration of the Class of 1967’s 40th reunion. Our Class is committed to raise a minimum of $125,000 to support an Alumni Laureate Scholar.

Judy and I believe that it is important for the future leaders of our country and our communities to have a good understanding of the history of entrepreneurship and the challenging principles, values, and ethics required to prepare a society for today’s global challenges: economic, social and environmental. This scholarship will enable an Alumni Laureate Scholar to study his/her passion, be it education, science, psychology, or other major discipline and to also develop the skill set to start, run or lead his/her business, to think outside the box and to capture opportunities to offer products or services that will better our society.

Judy and I, along with The Burton D. Morgan Foundation, are offering a challenge grant to the Class. We will contribute $1.00 for every $2.00 that is raised toward the $125,000 fundraising goal, up to a maximum of $42,000, representing 1/3 of the funds needed for this unique and distinctive Alumni Laureate Scholarship.

More information regarding the value of teaching entrepreneurship at the university level can be found by visiting www.kauffmanfoundation.org and www.bdmorganfdn.org and in "The Entrepreneurial Imperative," written by Carl J. Schramm, president of The Kauffman Foundation.

This entrepreneurial focus combined with the Alumni Laureate Scholarship requirements will give a unique distinction to the Class of 1967’s gift and will help to promote BGSU as a supporter of cutting edge entrepreneurial leadership. Judy and I encourage you to be a generous supporter of this special gift to Bowling Green State University.

Our warmest regards,

Richard and Judy (Gerwig ‘69) Seaman
1967 Vice President of the Student Body