For Claudia Prescott, Michigan State College holds a particular place in her coronary heart. It’s the place she found her profession path, constructed a basis for future success and met the love of her life, James.
“Our paths crossed at simply the suitable time … and it was at Michigan State,” she stated, explaining how they first met on a blind date after the varsity yr started in fall 1955. “It was love at first sight, and we discovered we had been an ideal match. MSU meant the world to Jim and I.”
After 63 years collectively, James (B.S. Engineering ’56) handed away in 2020. In his honor and to provide again to their cherished alma mater, Claudia (B.A. Basic Enterprise Administration ’56) has made a $1.5 million bequest present to MSU.
“Claudia Prescott’s generosity in honor of her late husband is a testomony to the affect MSU had on their lives and underscores a belief in us to construct on MSU’s excellence,” Interim President Teresa Woodruff, Ph.D., stated. “We’re deeply appreciative of this present, which is able to assist make sure that MSU might be as significant for the subsequent technology because it was for the Prescotts.”
Claudia’s present might be given equally to the dean’s discretionary funds of MSU’s Broad Faculty of Enterprise and Faculty of Engineering, the place she and James earned their levels. Such funds are essential for the success of every faculty, permitting deans to handle evolving wants and transfer assets to grab alternatives that instantly affect school and college students.
“We’re grateful for this beneficiant present, which is able to assist the Broad Faculty in its efforts to encourage the way forward for enterprise, enabling us to create moments that matter for our college students,” Judith Whipple, interim dean of the Broad Faculty, stated. “Jim and Claudia’s story is considered one of inspiration and unwavering love and dedication, together with for his or her alma mater.”
Faculty of Engineering Dean Leo Kempel added, “We’re impressed by their story, grateful for his or her imaginative and prescient and dedicated to serving to Spartan engineers obtain their desires with their assist.”
After first assembly alongside the banks of the Pink Cedar, the Prescotts cheered on the Spartans on the 1956 Rose Bowl, the place James requested Claudia to marry him. They loved being true Spartan followers over time, and Claudia hopes her present right this moment will encourage others to provide again to the college.
“Hopefully our assist now won’t solely assist the current college students however encourage them to provide again and assist different college students,” she stated. “We hope they understand how necessary it’s to assist Michigan State and the way it helps them of their life.”
Upon commencement in 1956, the Prescotts labored at Chrysler Missile in Michigan earlier than shifting to California in 1959. James took a job with Basic Dynamics and labored in aerospace for 20 years, then for the Metropolis of San Diego till he retired in 1998. Claudia was a secretary-executive with the Theodore Seuss Geisel household, working with Dr. Seuss after which with Audrey Geisel for 50 years. Presently, she is the president of the Dr. Seuss Basis.
Donors who would really like extra data on the best way to make a present to the Broad Faculty of Enterprise can name the Workplace of Growth at (517) 353-4340, or for items to the Faculty of Engineering, name the Workplace of Growth at (517) 355-8339 or e-mail egrdevel@egr.msu.edu.
This story initially appeared on the Broad Faculty of Enterprise web site.
