Portraits of Philanthropy

A Gift That Keeps On Giving

Dr. Angela Falter Thomas’ students are at the heart of everything she does. So it’s only appropriate that a student lounge recently named in her honor is located in the heart of BGSU’s Education Building, where she’s been a faculty member in the Middle Childhood Education and Graduate Reading programs for the last eight years. The Angela Falter Thomas, Ph.D. Student Lounge was dedicated thanks to a generous gift from her husband, Shayne Thomas, who wanted to do something special and unique to honor their 25th wedding anniversary on Nov. 30.

“About a year ago, my husband asked me what gift I would like for our 25th anniversary,” said Falter Thomas ‘89, who earned her bachelor’s degree at BGSU and spent 20 years teaching elementary and middle school before returning to her alma mater as a faculty member. “I told him I was so blessed and didn’t need a thing, but the College of Education and Human Development could use the funds.”

Falter Thomas, who is one of only a handful of teachers in the United States to hold two national board certifications, won the EDHD Excellence in College Teaching Award in 2015 and was named the BGSU CMLA Professor of the Year in 2014. She was a finalist for the BGSU Master Teaching Award in 2013.

Helping Women to Lead the Way

A group of leaders at the University have come together to create BGSU Women for Philanthropy. Led by Deans Marie Huff (Health and Human Services), Dawn Shinew (Education and Human Development) and Sara Bushong (Libraries); Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Planning Cecilia Castellano; and Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations, Annual Giving and Development Operations Becky Kocher, with support from Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D., president of BGSU,
the group is dedicated to building a culture of philanthropy at the University. Through fundraising and outreach they are committed to inspiring, educating and enabling members to.

• Develop their full leadership potential;
• Achieve independence as philanthropists and decision-makers;
• Serve as mentors for future generations of philanthropists;
• Broaden the base of financial support for BGSU scholarships;
• Forge new relationships through a thoughtful and effective community of women.

The group has already raised more than $60,000 from 38 donors to support a scholarship fund for incoming and current students in good academic standing who demonstrate financial need. Learn more at bgsu.edu/givewfp.

Paul Agne ’55 Gives Back to His Second Home

When Paul Agne ’55 thinks of home, he doesn’t think of his house in Versailles, Ohio; he thinks of BGSU. The 85-year-old retired teacher and coach remembers his time as a student in the College of Education and Human Development like it was yesterday. He can still recall when Williams Hall marked the northern edge of the campus, and how in September 1949, former BGSU President Frank J. Prout helped him move into his campus dormitory, which was actually an army barrack brought over from Camp Perry on Lake Erie. But most of all, Agne remembers the world of opportunity that opened with his college degree from Bowling Green State University. And that’s why he recently made a gift to help fund renovations at the College of Education and Human Development.

A conference room will be named in his honor following next year’s renovations. In addition to the renovations, Agne’s gift will fund a professional development wardrobe to help supply students in need with dress attire for interviews, student teaching and other field work. Agne is big on the idea of helping students succeed. In addition to his gift to the College of Education and Human Development, he also started a scholarship fund two years ago, and has made plans to include the University in his estate.

Dr. Dawn Shinew, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, expressed gratitude for Agne’s generosity and support for students: “Paul, like many of our alumni, is a teacher to his core. Long after his retirement, he’s continued to look for opportunities to support students and make a lasting contribution to education.”