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| Vol. 17, No. 8 | Oct. 23, 1997 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 8 | Oct. 23, 1997 |
At the ribbon cutting are (from left) Charles M. Cawley, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MBNA America Bank; Donald J. Puglisi, MBNA America Business Professor of Finance; Diane Sievering, AS '81, senior executive vice president at MBNA; Chaplin Tyler, donor and longtime friend of the University and the college; Donald R. Brunner, trustee and chairperson of the Business and Economics Visiting Committee; Dana J. Johnson, dean of the College of Business and Economics; President David P. Roselle; and Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr.
Pride, generosity, appreciation, a distinguished legacy and a promising future all were themes expressed at the dedication Oct. 17 of the new MBNA America Hall, new home of the College of Business and Economics.
More than 250 persons gathered on the lawn beside the Blue and Gold Club, across from the building's entrance, to formally dedicate the building, which opened in late summer in time for the fall semester.
Featured speakers-educators, corporate leaders, administrators, alumni, friends and faculty-all played an important role in the building of he new facility and the renovation of nearby Purnell Hall.
University President David P. Roselle stressed the importance of facilities that allow talented and gifted faculty to teach, instruct and challenge young people.
As part of the dedication program, Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. presented the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction to Donald J. Puglisi, MBNA America Business Professor of Finance. The award is given to citizens who have made humanitarian, cultural, intellectual or scientific contributions to society, have achieved noteworthy success in their professions or have given significant service to the University, state or region.
A faculty member since 1971, Puglisi has won awards for excellence in teaching and serves as faculty adviser to the Blue Hen Investment Club. He also is managing director of Puglisi & Associates, an investment management company providing services to major U.S. and foreign-based corporations.
In accepting his award, Puglisi expressed appreciation to the University for more than a quarter century of support, providing an atmosphere for unbridled freedom, scholarship, teaching, service and community development, as well as outstanding financial compensation and facilities.
"My greatest reward," he said, "is to interact with students in and out of the classroom." They have forced him to stay in touch with reality, to think analytically and to explore new ideas, he said.
Referring to the advice of his father, "Don't ever let success go to your head," Puglisi recognized the University for all the rewards it has given to him and said he must give more back to the University and "be more effective in that giving."
Dana J. Johnson, dean of the College of Business and Economics, who assumed leadership 14 months ago, acknowledged the leadership of her predecessor, former dean Kenneth Biederman and the efforts of the college's visiting committee.
"The success of the College of Business and Economics in the past and in the future is attributable to those we acknowledge today- students, friends in the private and public sectors, alumni, administration, faculty and staff-and in the building of relationships both internally and externally. MBNA America Hall is tangible evidence of what we can build together as we approach the millennium," she said.
Donald R. Brunner, trustee and chairperson of the Business and Economics Visiting Committee, recognized three corporate financial institutions that had contributed to the new building. Each representative was called to the podium and presented a facsimile of a plaque that will hang in the building.
John Himes, vice president of investor relations at the DuPont Co., received the plaque for the Marketing and Administrative Sciences Laboratory, currently under construction in the lower level of Purnell Hall.
Calvert Morgan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of PNC Bank, accepted the plaque for the PNC Bank Conference Room on the second floor of MBNA America Hall.
John Field, chairman and president of Morgan Bank, J. P. Morgan & Co. Inc., received the plaque for the J.P. Morgan Lecture Room, located on the first floor of MBNA America Hall.
Brunner explained that the visiting committee is "deeply committed to supporting business education at the University of Delaware and is proud of the association it brings both individually and corporately to the college."
Roselle introduced as very special "friends" of the University, Chaplin Tyler and his wife, Elizabeth, of Hockessin. Faithful supporters of the University, particularly the College of Business and Economics, the couple recently gave a $1 million gift to MBNA America Hall, and the atrium in the new building is named the Chaplin Tyler Atrium.
Tyler, at 99, delighted the audience with his remarks and described Johnson as a "dynamic agent of change," who often has said, "business education must change and adapt to new conditions." Tyler added, "That means, 'Things are going to happen around here!'"
He said the College of Business and Economics was on the threshold of becoming a role model for other institutions throughout the nation. "This is our destiny, and Godspeed," he said.
In introducing Charles M. Cawley, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MBNA America Bank, Roselle talked of the company's generous support of UD: $2.5 million to MBNA America Hall, $1 million to Fortune 2000, a minority recruitment and scholarship program in the college; $200,000 for the establishment of the MBNA professorship; $325,000 for the MBNA Concourse in the Bob Carpenter Center; and $2.5 million for building renovation and construction of a new UD classroom facility in downtown Wilmington. Income from the UD Alumni Association's affinity card helps support scholarship and other University programs.
Cawley noted the very close relationship between MBNA and UD, adding that the University played a significant role in the decision to establish the company in the Newark area in the 1980s. He said that while the list of MBNA's contributions to UD may seem impressive, he does not believe it is enough, for UD has given much more back to MBNA America.
The relationship between MBNA and the University "symbolizes the future of both institutions," he said, adding that, if the University of Delaware were a portrait, it would be a "masterpiece."
Cawley introduced Diane Sievering, AS '81, senior executive vice president at MBNA, one of the first UD graduates to join the company. MBNA now employs 1,600 UD alumni and students.
Sievering said MBNA's relationship with the University is critical to the company's success during the last 15 years and will be equally important in the 15 years to come.
Roselle also expressed appreciation to the state of Delaware for its support of the facility. State Budget Director Peter Ross was recognized, as was U.S. Rep. Michael Castle.
In addition, the president expressed special thanks to Scott Simpson, principal of The Stubbins Group, architects; representatives of Wohlsen Construction Co., including David Brodie, Robert French and Joanne Palmer; and Frank Palmer, Jim Martini and Scott Carr, from Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
The long-standing support of UD by Wilmington Trust Company was acknowledged and representatives Rob Harra BE '71, Leonard BE '58 and Martina Quill accepted a plaque designating the Leonard Quill Conference Room, in honor of the UD alumnus.
Henri L. Bertuch, a member of the class of 1954, and his wife, Rhonda Sue, class of 1956, were thanked for their $100,000 gift to assist undergraduates and the completion of MBNA America Hall. They have established the Bertuch Fellowships for MBA students and the Rhonda Sue and Henri L. Bertuch Undergraduate Student Scholarship Fund for out-of-state students who show academic promise and financial need. A lecture hall in the new building will be named in their honor.
A gift from the Lingo family of Rehoboth Beach will be recognized with a lecture room. Jack and Peggy Lingo accepted a plaque in their honor.
Kirkpatrick concluded the ceremony by officially dedicating MBNA America Hall "with special thanks and sincere appreciation to the faculty, students, alumni, donors and to the people of MBNA America."
After a ribbon cutting ceremony at the main entrance to MBNA America Hall, with members of the platform group, tours were given of the new building.
-Ed Okonowicz
Photos by Jack Buxbaum
Charles M. Cawley, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MBNA America Bank, speaking at the dedication of MBNA America Hall
Chaplin Tyler (above) and his wife, Elizabeth, of Hockessin, donated $1 million to the new building, which houses the Chaplin Tyler Atrium.
Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. (right) presents the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction to Donald J. Puglisi, MBNA America Business Professor of Finance.
