December 21, 2012
To the Oakland University community,
I am very pleased to announce that longtime and esteemed friends, Hugh and Nancy Elliott, have once again demonstrated their deep commitment to the success of Oakland University with a remarkable act of generosity.
Having been honored in numerous ways for their continuing support, the Elliotts are providing a gift of more than $6.5 million to design, construct, operate and maintain a 151-foot carillon tower in the heart of main campus. This will enable Oakland University to join the ranks of prestigious universities across the globe that have honored a centuries-old tradition of constructing a carillon tower on campus.
A water fountain, a garden and integrated landscaping will accompany what will assuredly become a stunning campus highlight. Both the Elliotts and those of us involved in planning efforts believe it will become a focal point for student and campus community gatherings. Equally important, I believe the carillon will symbolize the steadily rising levels of success we’ve seen in so many of our university goals and endeavors.
This transformational gift will complement many others the Elliotts have offered over the past 15 years. In that time, they have remained devoted and steadfast in their goal to enhance the quality of programs and student experiences at Oakland.
To cite just a few examples, the Elliotts have:
- helped raise the quality and stature of academic programs by generously contributing $2 million toward the advancement of the School of Business Administration, now housed in the R. Hugh and Nancy Elliott Hall of Business and Information Technology, as well as more than $200,000 toward the SBA's renovation and gift funds;
- partnered with OU alumni Craig and Ann Stinson to match SBA alumni and friend contributions of up to $500,000 during the school's 40th anniversary in 2009;
- expanded student access to and opportunities in higher education by establishing and contributing nearly $250,000 to five separate, endowed scholarship and academic lecture funds;
- broadened student extracurricular opportunities by contributing more than $100,000 to athletic program funds, and;
- enhanced student learning opportunities and strengthened campus community experiences by creating and sponsoring the President’s Invitational golf outing for 11 years running, the cumulative impact of which has been more than $1 million raised for academic and athletic programs.
We are now working to develop a timeline for construction and dedication of the carillon. I can tell you that we’re anticipating a groundbreaking ceremony during our 2013 Founder’s Day celebration in mid-April.
I hope you will join me in expressing immense gratitude for this gift and all the Elliotts have done to advance the mission and prominence of Oakland University. In my view, they represent the very definition of the word benefactors.
I hope that you will also accept my gratitude for the tremendous work you have been doing – as accomplished scholars and teachers, as inspired students, and as professionals who help transform our goals into remarkable accomplishments. It is this very success we achieve as a community that the carillon tower will come to represent.
Thank you,
Gary