With the "greenest" University of Michigan building as a backdrop, the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) gave tribute Friday to those who made investments in students and faculty as part of the historic Michigan Difference campaign.

The Nov. 14 celebration in the Dana Building recognized nearly a dozen individuals and couples whose contributions are helping SNRE create a sustainable future for the planet. Those individuals and hundreds more have helped the school exceed its fund-raising goals during The Michigan Difference campaign, which officially ends Dec. 31.

Those contributions have overwhelmingly gone to expand scholarship and financial aid support to students and research support for faculty. In all, individuals, corporations and foundations have so far donated or pledged more than $32.5 million to the school since the campaign began.

"It is our great honor to recognize those who believe in the mission of SNRE, which is achieving a sustainable future for our planet," said Rosina M. Bierbaum, dean of the school.í‚   "We celebrate those who have done so much to make sure our students are the Leaders and Best when it comes to in tackling the interconnected suite of environmental issues facing our planet."

The SNRE celebration came only hours after the University-wide community celebrated the campaign milestone in grand fashion. At an event inside Hill Auditorium, the University thanked the more than 364,000 donors who enabled U-M, over the last eight and a half years, to greatly increase student financial aid, create new student programs, hire and retain outstanding faculty, support groundbreaking research, and provide new buildings for health care, teaching, arts and entertainment. (Read more about the University celebration).

The broader U-M campaign so far raised $3,115,644,057, Campaign Chair Rich Rogel announced. The sum is believed to be the largest amount ever raised by a public university, and substantially exceeds the goal of $2.5 billion announced in 2004. The $3.1 billion represents receipts as of Oct. 31.

"The people we recognize tonight represent business, engineering, science, social science and health - exactly the disciplines required to tackle sustainability and the issues facing all of us today," Dean Bierbaum said.

Acting SNRE Dean J. David Allan assisted Dean Bierbaum, who is on a year-long sabbatical, in acknowledging the supporters. Those honored by SNRE were:

• Ronald and Nancy Bauer: Ronald Bauer is a 1960 graduate of SNR and holds master's and doctoral degrees in political science. He and Nancy reside in Spring Lake, Mich., and have served as former school advisers. Through this campaign, the Bauers have declared a legacy gift to fund a scholarship ensuring the door to the Dana Building remains open to deserving students.
• Bunyan Bryant: Professor Bryant is best known to SNRE as a beloved faculty member but to the nation as an icon who has worked tirelessly for 30-plus years to move environmental justice to the forefront of current policy and advocacy. Alexandria Teague, a current SNRE student, is the first to benefit from the Scholarship Fund for Environmental Justice, established by Professor Bryant and his wife, Jean.
• Sally Churchill, vice president and secretary of the University: Churchill is SNRE's in-house advocate for green initiatives. Churchill also teaches undergraduate PitE students and is an adjunct faculty member in SNRE with a research interest in environmental law and environmental issues for the Great Lakes.
• Phelps "Flip" and Jean Connell: The Connells mirror many U-M alumni not only because they reside in Ann Arbor, but because they care and support such a range of U-M institutions and programs, including the Musical Society, Architecture and Urban Planning, Museum of Art, Public Policy, LSA and SNRE. Today the Phelps and Jean Connell Scholarship is given to a deserving graduate; this year's recipient is Paul M. Davis, who is interested in renewable energy, eco-entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
• Jean Fairfax: Jean Fairfax, a 1941 U-M graduate, has established the Fairfax Initiative for Strategic Giving:í‚  Building African-American Alumnií‚  Philanthropy at the University of Michigan. The Fairfax Initiative connects African-American alumni and friends with the University of Michigan through giving. The Initiative urges black alumni and friends to give generously and strategically. Through the Initiative, SNRE hopes this strategic giving brings about meaningful and progressive change at Michigan. Ms. Fairfax has also been a generousí‚  donor to SNRE's Environmental Justice Program.
• Ruth and Al Glancy and family: The Glancys are proud parents of two (of the 140 worldwide) Erb dual M.B.A./M.S. graduates, Rob and Doug. Together, they have created the Glancy Climate Innovation Award to advance research and scholarly work on mitigation. SNRE looks forward to awarding its first Glancy Award this year.í‚  
• Donald and Ingrid Graham: The Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute champions sustainability across all U-M schools and colleges. Don and Ingrid Graham looked at the unique strengths across campus and realized the University could harness interdisciplinary research and education in the service of society if it linked and focused its efforts. The Graham family is a U-M legacy. Today, SNRE students Cristy Watkins, Kendra Walker and Jun Wang are recipients of the Graham Memorial Scholarship in honor of Don Graham's father, Samuel Graham, a former professor in the School of Forestry - the precursor to today's SNRE.
• Gene and Emily Grant and family: The Gene and Emily Grant Scholarship has provided assistance to several students over the past 10 years. Recently, Mr. Grant was captivated by the announcement of the President's 100 Junior Faculty "cluster hires" in interdisciplinary research on sustainability and provided SNRE with seed funding for its first junior hire.
• U-M Regent Libby Maynard: Regent Maynard is not just a seasoned and learned voice on the regent's bench but also a green voice in the halls of the Dana Building. Through her work on the C. S. Mott Foundation, she has supported the Environmental Justice field of study and Professor Bryant's passion of advocacy.
• Dr. Timothy Wallington: Dr. Wallington is is a research scientist in Ford Motor Co.'s Research and Advanced Engineering unit. Not only is he an adjunct faculty member in the College of Engineering, but also a new advisory board member for SNRE's Center for Sustainable Systems. He is one of 26 volunteers who inspired CSS to develop the new Engineering Sustainable Systems dual-degree program - the first between a college of engineering and school of natural resources - and to identify new areas of research relevant and timely to the public and private sector.
• Marshall Weinberg: Everyone who goes through the School of Natural Resources and Environment vies for a Weinberg Summer Internship. It is one of two coveted summer fellowships and has taken SNRE students from the Huron River and United Kingdom to Madagascar and Antarctica. This summer, 42 applicants fought for seven spots as a Weinberg Fellow. Mr. Weinberg was this year's David B. Hermelin Award winner for his contributions on behalf of the entire University community. A strong volunteer of The Michigan Difference campaign, he supports not only SNRE, but professorships and lectureships in philosophy, Judaic and population studies.

About the School of Natural Resources and Environment
The School of Natural Resources and Environment's overarching objective is to contribute to the protection of the Earth's resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Through research, teaching, and outreach, faculty, staff, and students are devoted to generating knowledge and developing policies, techniques and skills to help practitioners manage and conserve natural and environmental resources to meet the full range of human needs on a sustainable basis.
http://www.snre.umich.edu/