Office of Development
Naming Opportunities
There is, perhaps, no more glowing accolade than the association of a name with an institution of higher learning. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote his own epitaph, listed three accomplishments on his tombstone. Being founder of the University of Virginia was among them. Being President of the United States didn't make the list.
Areas of the university supported by a gift can be named to honor the donor or a beloved family member, the professor who inspired a career or the coach who changed a life.
The most visible are buildings such as the Moser Performing Arts Center. The most popular form of named endowment is a scholarship fund. The University of St. Francis currently stewards more than 40 named scholarships.
Many needs exist at USF which could be met through the generosity of a donor whom the university would be pleased to recognize by name. Here are just a few examples with endowment amounts that would be necessary to fund their establishment or renovation and provide for their upkeep and ongoing maintenance:
| Scholarship | |
| Walkway | |
| Center for Franciscan Studies | |
| Center for Business and Community Partnership | |
| Endowed Professorship | |
| Endowed Chair | |
| Campus Gateway | |
| The Quad | |
| Taylor Wing | |
| The Library | |
| The Recreation Center | |
| College of Business | |
| College of Nursing & Allied Health | |
| College of Education | |
| College of Arts & Sciences | |
| New Residence Hall |
Did You Know?
The UNO Lounge in Tower Hall is named for the famous card game. The company that created the game was based in Joliet.
The Waranius Laboratory in Tower Hall is named after generous benefactors, Frances and William Waranius of Houston, Texas, and is dedicated to Frances's mother and father. A science major and graduate of the Class of 1953, Frances became a research librarian at NASA duringthe Gemini-Apollo years and Bill was a chemist. Because of Fran's love and respect for USF, she included USF as a beneficiary in her IRA to continue to support the Waranius Laboratory.
The Kirk Biology Center is named after Sister Mary Vincent Kirk, Professor of Biology from 1943 to 1980.
There are many more. Almost anything an endowed fund could establish, renovate or maintain is a candidate for naming: the grand stairway in Tower Hall, the flag pole out front, a room that holds a special memory for you, or an office where you worked. If you have an idea, we'd love to hear it. For more information, contact Bill Biebuyck at (815) 740-5045 or by email at wbiebuyck@stfrancis.edu.