When Beverly and Lyman Hamilton learned of President Mary Sue Coleman's Challenge for the Student Global Experience, they seized the chance to maximize the educational impact of their gift to the Ford School. As Lyman Hamilton, a long-serving member of the Ford School Committee, explained, "Beverly and I believe strongly in the value of an international education. We knew a gift to the Ford School through this new challenge would allow many students the opportunity to study abroad."
President Coleman established the challenge in 2009, saying, "Living and learning in a different culture is an invaluable experience that prepares students for the global economy. I want to encourage students to visit other countries and challenge themselves in their new surroundings. Increased financial support will make that possible." The President's Donor Challenge will provide a $1 match for every $2 in endowment gifts between $25,000 and $500,000, and runs until December 31, 2010.
Deepening the international dimensions of the Ford School is a high priority for Dean Susan M. Collins as well, and this new donor challenge helps by focusing attention on the need to make international opportunities available to students. "Beverly and Lyman’s gift to the school demonstrates a strong commitment to our students and an understanding of their growing interest in working and studying abroad," explained Collins. "We are very grateful for their generous donation."
Lyman Hamilton is a graduate of the Littauer School (now the Kennedy School of Government) and the former chair of ITT. He and Beverly live in California and Connecticut.
For more information about the President’s Challenge, please contact Beth Johnson at [email protected] or 734/615-4001, or visit http://www.giving.umich.edu/opportunities/index.php?page=president_challenge