For Mission Excellence Campaign
College receives largest commitment in history
Building on a family tradition of service to
and support of Chowan College, alumna Susan
Parker Kerr of Indian Lake Estates, Fla., has
made the single largest individual commit
ment in the history of the college. It is for the
Mission Excellence campaign.
The previous largest donation was $500,000
from an anonymous donor toward the new
gymnasium, the Jesse Helms Center.
For Endowment, Student Aid
The campaign will provide additional stu
dent aid/scholarships, endowment for
teaching and administration, program
development, and the renovation of facilities.
Stat^ President Bruce E. Whitaker,
“Susan Parker Kerr has demonstrated
through this gift by will her continued interest
and support of Chowan, a college she and
family members have supported for many
years. The Parker family has been instrumen
tal in advancing the college to its present posi
tion as one of the nation’s finest private, two-
year colleges.”
Continued Dr. Whitaker, “We appreciate
her generous gift and desire to continue the
growth of Chowan, on many different levels, to
which her parents and other relatives have
made such an important contribution.”
To Serve as Challenge
Campaign chairman Robert B. Spivey of
Windsor and honorary chairperson Mrs.
Robert R. (Texie Camp) Marks of Boykins,
Va., said the bequest will serve as a challenge
gift to encourage other donations which would
enable Chowan to complete the minimum $4
million campaign in the fall. They were joined
in thanking Mrs. Kerr by members of the cam
paign committee and Director of Develop
ment E. Vincent Tilson.
The Parker family has strong ties to
Chowan. Mrs. Kerr’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth
Sewell Parker of Indian Lake Estates, Fla.,
graduated from Chowan, then a four-year
women’s college, in 1929.
Instrumental in Reopening
Her father, the late Elwood W. Parker, sup
ported the college over his lifetime. He was co
owner with Edwin P. Brown, Sr., of Riverside
Manufacturing Company, Murfreesboro,
which later merged with Georgia-Pacific Cor
poration.
Parker played a key role in the reopening of
the college in 1949, after it had been closed
during World War II. Whitaker said Parker
supported the reopening by both word and
de^. At church and civic meetings, he ex
pressed confidence that the college could and
would resume operations, and then both gave
and solicited gifts over a wide area to provide
momentum. Mrs. P. D. Sewell, his wife’s
mother and a Chowan trustee, also worked in
the campaign to reopen the college.
His own daughter, Susan, was one of the
first area students to benefit from the col
lege’s reopening. She was a student under two
presidents, Dr. B. D. Bunn, who served from
1949 to 1951, and Dr. F. 0. Mixon, president un
til his death in 1956. Susan studied under Dr.
Mixon’s wife, Mrs. Daisy Lou Mixon, now pro
fessor emeritus of religion.
Residence Hall Named for Father
Elwood Parker made a $100,000 gift to the
campaign to construct the new science-
engineering facility. Parker Hall, residence
hall for 280 men, was named in honor of Mr.
and Mrs. Parker in 1972. He died on Feb. 15,
1985 at the age of 92.
After graduating from Chowan, Susan
transferred to Guilford College. She expressed
pleasure with the progress Chowan has made
under Dr. Whitaker, president since 1957. She
said she was pleased to be able to make a ma
jor gift that would help the students and the
continued progress of the college.
Vincent Tilson named Director of Development
E. Vincent Tilson, acting Direc
tor of Devel9tnent, has been nam
ed Directw of Development, effec
tive June 1, according to President
Bruce E. Whitaker.
The Chowan alumni program,
under Tilson’s direction, has ex
perienced dramatic growth, Dr.
Whitaker declared. In 1987-68, the
Alumni Loyalty Fund surpassed
$50,000 for the first time in the col
lege’s history. Gifts to the Alumni
Fund have increased over the past
five years from 350 to 900 annually.
Alumni phonathon pledges and
gifts have more than quadn^>led
over the last five years. The
average attendance at alumni
events has doubled.
Provided Leadership
As acting director, Tilson provid
ed leadership for the overall
development program to include
directing the Alumni Fund, Annual
Fund, Parents Fund and the cur
rent $4 million capital campaign.
The $131,000 given to the Annual
Giving Fund in the 1987-88 year is
the second largest total ever,
Whitakernoted.
Commented Dr. Whitaker, “Mr.
Tilson brings to this position a
strong commitment to serve the
total interests of the college
through our Development Pro
gram. It is a source of satisfaction
to me that we were able to identify
a strong qualified individual from
within the college community to
assume this demanding and impor
tant position.”
Goals exceeded in two annual drives
Chowan College exceeded its Annual Giving Fund
for 1987-88 while setting a college record with gifts
to the Alumni Loyalty Fund. The $131,000 given to
the Annual Giving Fund in the 1987-88 fiscal year is
the seond largest annual giving year in the history
of the college.
“We’ve had a strong year,” commented Director
of Development E. Vincent Tilson, “under challeng
ing circumstances. Obviously Chowan enjoys the
support of many loyal alumni and friends who think
well of what we’re about here and who want to share
in our efforts.”
Increases Noted for Past Five Years
The Alumni Loyalty fund surpassed $50,000 for the
first time ever. Gifts to the Alumni Fund have in
creased over the past five years from $20,000 to over
$50,000 annually.
Donors to the Alumni Loyalty Fund have grown in
this same time period from 350 to over 900 annually.
Tilson added, “People feel good about Chowan.
The college’s trustees, advisors, and other good
friends like our financial accountability, believe in
our mission and purpose and come to see their gifts
more as investments helping young people suc
cessfully begin their college educations.
“Alumni recognize the strength and direction
faculty members brought to their lives and how
their overall experience at Chowan benefited them.
It’s gratifying to see more and more alumni each
year give to the Alumni Loyalty Fund to at least in
part acknowledge the difference Chowan has made
in their lives.”
Gifts “Vitally Important”
President Bruce E. Whitaker noted that surpass
ing both the Annual Giving Fund and Alumni Loyal
ty Fund goals was a major reason the college
operated in the black for the 30th straight year.
“Gifts are vitally important to Chowan and have
always made a difference here,” stated Whitaker.
“I’ve seen firsthand the good such generous support
brings about on campus. This support of our alumni
and friends is crucial if Chowan is to remain one of
the nation’s top two-year colleges.”
E. VINCENT TILSON
. Named Director of Development
Tilson’s grandmother, Bessie
Hayes Orrell, graduated in 1909
from what was then the Chowan
Female Institute as did his great
grandmother, Verne S. Speight, m
1876.
Joined Staff in 1981
A Wilmington native, Tilson
began his service at Chowan in
1981 as associate director of
development. He was named ac
ting director in February, 1988,
after the director of development
since 1970, Bobby S. Cross, was
confined to his bed due to illness.
Cross died on May 11,1988.
Tilson holds the B.A. degree
from the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington, where he
graduated cum laude with honors
in English. He is a graduate of
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary with a Master of Divini
ty degree in religious education.
At UNC-Wilmington, Tilson was
a Dean’s List student. He was a
member of the Board of Directors
of the United Christian Campus
Ministry and the Government and
Politics Association.
Tilson studied at Southern
Seminary where he served as Stu
dent Government Association vice
president.
Active in Conmmnity
Currently serving as vice presi
dent of the Murfreesboro Rotary
Club, Tilson visited England in
1985 as a member of a Rotary
Group Study Exchange Team. He
was presented as a Paul Harris
Sustaining Fellow to Rotary Inter
national by the campus P.otaract
chapter.
Tilson is married to the former
Olivia (Libby) Cuttino of Beaufort,
S. C. She holds the Bachelor of
Music from Converse College and
Master of Church Music from
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary. She is a former minister
of youth and current organist at
Murfreesboro Baptist Church. She
teaches piano at home.
The Tilsons have one daughter,
Olivia Hayes, two months. Tilson is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles V.
Tilson, Jr., of Wilmington. He is a
member of the Murfreesboro Bap
tist Church, where he is a deacon
and teaches the young married
Sunday School class.
The Chowanian, July, 1988—PAGE 3
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