Onyx Anneau President's Report 2020

By Karen Dyer n FROM A PLACE OF gratitude

Their Rose-Woods story began on a blind date, and nearly 55 years later, includes two endowed scholarships, a laboratory and an outdoor classroom spanning two campuses and a lifetime of commitment. Their story is one that is written from a place of gratitude for their parents, God and the educations they received from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT). “Every time I turn on to the Avenue, I feel such contentment,” said Nancy Butler Bruck ’69, who was fortunate to celebrate her 50th Reunion in 2019. “The Woods is a very special place, as we know, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without it. The spirituality, beauty and friendships will always be with me.” So, when the opportunity came up to help bring an outdoor classroom building to fruition, Nancy and husband, Morgan (Morg) Bruck, a 1969 RHIT alumnus, saw this as a way to invest in SMWC and remember Nancy’s parents. “I feel very strongly about supporting the College and will continue to do so. Even a small amount can make a difference. It is not the level of giving, but the support that is important,” said Nancy. “My parents were very committed to The Woods, and I wish my father could have been there when I got my ring and when I graduated. We have tried to honor them with the scholarship, and now the classroom.” Morg saw firsthand how much alumni giving meant as he worked his junior and senior years in the RHIT Alumni Office and also as a class agent after graduation. Morg added that his parents and Nancy’s believed strongly in a college degree, so they made it a priority to honor that commitment by giving to their alma maters. Nancy and Morg established the Bayless V. Butler and Mary R. Butler Endowed Scholarship at SMWC and the

Morgan “Morg” Bruck and Nancy Butler Bruck ’69 “The Pentateuch instructs on three tithes and, as God has blessed us, we have tried to follow these. Our church gets the first tithe and the second goes to SMWC and RHIT.” — Morg Bruck

Nancy Butler Bruck ’69 and Morg celebrating her 50th Reunion in 2019.

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