Muriel Hutchinson Strebe ’51 honored with classroom dedication

Muriel Strebe '51 has fond memories of Bowling Green State University, where she prepared for a fulfilling career as an elementary school teacher. She wanted to help other first generation college students who dreamed of doing the same. During her 50th reunion year, she designated a major gift for her alma mater by including BGSU as a beneficiary in her estate plan. This was the first of many gifts given by Strebe.

In recognition of her endless support of BGSU and the College of Education and Human Development, members of the College, Board of Trustees, President Mary Ellen Mazey and numerous students gathered in room 201 of the Education building on Sept. 30 to honor Strebe. A plaque was unveiled in a recently renovated active classroom, naming the classroom The Muriel Hutchinson Strebe ’51 Classroom. 

Prior to the classroom dedication, Strebe met with members of Kappa Delta Pi and was reinitiated into the fraternity as the class of 2016.

But if Strebe stopped after simply naming BGSU in her estate plans, she may not have fully realized the impact of her gift during her lifetime, nor found the perfect combination of planned giving tools to enhance her gift.

After reaching out to the BGSU Foundation, Inc., Strebe worked with the Foundation's planned giving officers to establish the Muriel Hutchinson Strebe Scholarship, a fund to benefit students enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development. Strebe was so impressed by the scholarship recipients she met and the impact that her gift was making, she explored her additional planned giving options and added a charitable gift annuity to her BGSU legacy.

Originally from Clyde, Ohio, Strebe first chose BGSU because her parents wanted her to stay close to home. The choice proved to be the right one for many other reasons too. She recalled making a diverse group of friends during an exciting time on campus, as many veterans were returning to the college scene shortly after the conclusion of World War II.

When Strebe lived on campus in Kohl Hall, she shared a room with three other young women. She kept in touch with many of them for years, including an international student from China with whom she regularly exchanged letters after their graduation. Her favorite spot to eat on campus was Commons dining hall, which became increasingly crowded during each year of her study as more of "the guys were coming home from service."

The friends she made and the experiences they shared on campus shaped her career as much as the time they all spent together in the classroom. Strebe is confident that her contribution will help other BGSU students to benefit from such opportunities.

"A place that you spend four years is always special," Strebe said. "You become part of the community when you're there. I just think that's so special."