"Giving Hope, Changing Lives" — Lillywhite Gift Makes a Difference at Utah State University

Three checks were presented to Utah State University President Stan Albrecht in a ceremony that capped activities associated with a gift to the university from the estate of Ray L. and Eloise Hoopes Lillywhite. The gift, totaling approximately $4.5 million, is the second largest philanthropic gift from an individual in the university's history.

 

The checks were signed and presented by Lorenzo N. Hoopes, executor of the Ray and Eloise Lillywhite estate. Those attending the ceremony included Utah State University First Lady Joyce Albrecht, Vice President for University Advancement M. Scott Mietchen, College of Education and Human Services Dean Carol Strong, and College of Education and Human Services Development Director Frank Stewart.

 

"I've never done this before," said Hoopes as he prepared to pass the first check to President Albrecht. "I wanted to sign this 'Ren' but I didn't know if that would go."

 

The first check for $200,000 supports the existing Joanne Lillywhite Christensen Scholarship Endowment in Speech-Language Pathology in the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department.

 

"We deeply appreciate this support," Dean Strong said. "This gift will help a number of students in the department."

 

"This will provide encouragement to students," Hoopes said as he noted that the scholarship endowment now approaches $500,000.

 

The second check, totaling $2 million, was presented to President Albrecht and establishes the Ray L. and Eloise Hoopes Lillywhite Endowed Chair in Speech-Language Pathology in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education.

 

The Lillywhite Endowed Chair will become a foundation faculty position at the university.

 

"The chair will allow us to attract a distinguished scholar who can make major contributions to the understanding of human communication and disorders of communication," Dean Strong said at the time of the gift announcement.

 

A committee and chair have been named to head the search for the Lillywhite Chair.

 

"I fully intend to have someone in place by next August," Strong said. 

 

A third and final check for $2,200,000 was presented to President Albrecht. The gift enhances Utah State's university scholars program, creating the Ray L. and Eloise Hoopes Lillywhite University Scholars Endowment.

 

"We have had so much positive feedback from the event last spring when we announced the Lillywhite gift," Albrecht said. "This gift makes a tremendous contribution to our work at the university, and we will see other gifts as a result."

 

"This gift is key to bringing the best students to Utah State University," Dean Strong concluded.

 

"The impact of this gift will go on a long, long time," Hoopes said. "We are all very pleased."