Foundation recognizes outstanding NIU supporters The Northern Illinois University Foundation honored three outstanding supporters of the university at its annual Donor Recognition Dinner, Oct. 5, at the Oak Brook Marriott. Click here to view video clips from the Donor Recognition Dinner. Recognized for outstanding philanthropy were former NIU Interim Provost Lynne Waldeland and Verizon Communications. NIU Foundation Board member Dick Boardman was singled out for the many volunteer leadership roles he has assumed over the years to advance the university. Waldeland, who recently retired from NIU, served the university for 31 years, working in capacities ranging from professor of English to interim executive vice president and provost. Along with those titles, she also earned a reputation as a leading philanthropist. During her more than three decades on campus she provided support to many programs at NIU including music, athletics, University Libraries and Northern Public Radio. She was also a regular supporter of scholarship programs and recently established endowed scholarships in English and Music, and one expendable scholarship in each of those areas. “Lynn has always given generously to support the university personally and has been tireless in her efforts to encourage others to become part of a strong culture of philanthropy at Northern,” said Mallory M. Simpson, president of the NIU Foundation. Also honored for years of financial support was Verizon Communications (formerly GTE), which has provided support to a variety of exciting academic programs at NIU in recent years. In 1996, the Verizon Foundation made a $100,000 gift that allowed the creation of the Center for Telematics. The lab, which just opened this fall, teaches students the latest technologies for merging computing and telecommunications, preparing them for careers working in e-commerce, creating online magazines and refining distance education, among other things. More recently, the Verizon Foundation contributed $150,000 to the College of Education’s School-University Partnership Program. That undertaking is designed to familiarize student teachers with the latest in classroom teaching and technology, while at the same time keeping working teachers abreast of the latest developments being taught on campus. Verizon’s gift allowed the purchase of technology to ease that process. The company also has a long history of involvement with Huskie athletics through its support of the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All American program and the Verizon Huskie Athletics Academic Excellence Awards. “Verizon has demonstrated its philanthropic commitment to the students and programs at NIU in many ways through many years. They remain an important and engaged partner,” Simpson said. The NIU Foundation also honored Richard G. Boardman for a lifetime of volunteer leadership at NIU. Boardman, who earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at NIU, spent many years on the Board of Directors of the Huskie Club working to benefit NIU Athletics. He also served as president of the NIU Alumni Association, helping to articulate that organization’s mission and define its programs. Nowhere, however, has Boardman’s leadership been more valuable than at the NIU Foundation where he has served on the board since 1986. From 1998-2000 he was chair of the foundation, ably guiding it through its transition to a new organizational structure. Currently, he sits on the executive committee and chairs the leadership committee working to attract qualified board members willing to assist in fulfilling the foundation’s mission. “Dick has truly been part of the very fabric of the NIU Foundation Board and has consistently helped to ensure the board’s stability and helped to define its direction,” Simpson said.