Lawrence Played a Big Part — Trust Beneficiary

Jeff Hawley '79 and Rose Lee

My wife of 4 years, Rose Lee, visited the Lawrence University campus for her first time during my 40^th reunion in June of 2019.

Rose graduated from San Diego State University with a business degree in 1985. During her time in college, she lived at home, worked part time, and had a remarkably different experience compared to me.

And as we were strolling past Main Hall during the partly cloudy summer day a few years ago, she turned to me and said she wished she had gone to a school like Lawrence.

Later that day she met my former classmates Scott Myers '79 and Tom Vallone '79. After getting to know them and touring our school, she could see why this place, with its lasting educational and personal friendships that are embedded in my core, has meant so much to me.

And then of course it hit me again—what a privileged life that I have enjoyed and how this school has helped me succeed in life—financially, mentally, spiritually.

Going back a few years, as anyone who knows me well, I was not a star student. I had average grades; my academic curiosity waned off and on depending on the professor and the subject. And I was a notorious procrastinator.

In some ways, I could not wait to graduate and get on with my life and experience the "real world" beyond Appleton. But I did not realize the benefits of my education until I began working in business and seeing what good writing skills and critical thinking can mean to one's success.

Fast forward a few years—two marriages, no children, a few job changes and some eventual concrete retirement planning. In 2018, my wife and I put together our living trust and named Lawrence University as one of its beneficiaries. Heck, LU might never see a penny. But when I look back at what brought me here today—Lawrence University played a big part and it felt good to list them in our plan.

And it would be nice to help in some small way to allow folks like my wife, who would have loved to have attended a school like ours, an opportunity to do so.