Over the holiday season, Ottawa University received a $1 million donation from Ramon and Glenda Schmidt.
This donation will help the university in 3 different places: the online and adult Center for Academic and Professional Services , the Adawe LifePlan Center and OU’s commitment to being a liberal arts institution.
These 3 things come together to be named the ‘Schmidt Center for Personal and Professional Growth.”
Ramon, a graduate of OU, believes this donation will assist students with their career choices.
“Anything we can do to help students stay in school and help them find their calling,” he said.
Glenda agrees that not only will this help with students’ futures, but it will be something that will continue for years to come.
“We want to see students achieve maximum involvement,” she said. “This project will extend way beyond our lifetime.”
President Kevin Eichner said the Schmidt’s have been supportive of this project from the beginning.
“The idea resonated with them right away,” he said. “This will be a suite of services to students.”
This donation has also helped in hiring the staff necessary to achieve success for this project.
“We’ve hired over 20 people in a year and a half,” he said.
Glenda feels that because this project will extend for years to come that students should take advantage of what it has to offer now.
“It helps students find the resources they need,” she said. “It has potential in actual demonstrative ability to get students to stay in school.”
This is something Ramon also agrees with.
“We have goals about what it will do,” he said. “It should keep students on board and help them find a life career.”
Eichner has personally known the Schmidt’s for years; both of them serve as OU board members.
“They are wonderful examples of servant leaders,” he said. “They are committed to a philanthropic life. When students look for examples of full and significant lives I hope they’ll remember the Schmidts.”