The Seurkamp Fund for Academic Excellence
The Seurkamp Fund for Academic Excellence will continue President Seurkamp’s indelible legacy at Notre Dame, through support for scholarships, academic programs and facilities.
Since her inauguration in 1997, President Seurkamp has led the University through an unprecedented era of progress and growth, including:
- Expanding academic programs to meet the needs of nontraditional students through the College of Adult Undergraduate Studies;
- Establishing Notre Dame as a leader in health care education, with the launch of the School of Pharmacy and expansion of nursing programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
- Realigning of academic programs into the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business; School of Education; and School of Nursing;
- Founding the Ph.D. in education, the first doctoral program to be offered at the University;
- Overseeing $120 million in much-needed capital projects involving the construction, expansion and renovation of residential and academic facilities; and
- Leading Notre Dame through the historic decision to become Notre Dame of Maryland University on September 9, 2011.
The proceeds from the Blue and White Ball in March 2012 will be used to establish the first endowed scholarship fund of the University era at Notre Dame. In addition, as part of the University’s master plan, a campus facility will be named in honor of President Seurkamp as a permanent tribute to her leadership and the educational innovation and academic excellence she inspired during her presidency.
Blue and White Ball
The Blue and White Ball was held in March 2012 in honor of Dr. Mary Pat Seurkamp and her 15 years of service to Notre Dame. The Ball raised an astounding $1 million in support of the new Seurkamp Fund for Academic Excellence. Denise Koch, WJZ-TV news anchor, emceed the March 31 gala along with Board of Trustees chair Patricia J. Mitchell. Nearly 500 leaders from the Maryland higher education, business and philanthropic communities came together in tribute to President Seurkamp’s 15-year legacy of leadership. Cardinal Edwin O’Brien joined the celebration to extend appreciation to President Seurkamp from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Charles and Catherine Counselman '41 presented a $300,000 gift to the Seurkamp Fund, adding to generous contributions of $100,000 from leadership sponsor Edward, Judith, Steven and Diana Civera; and $100,000 from sponsor Willard Hackerman and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Sponsorships of the Seurkamp Fund at the $25,000 level were received from Veronica Walker Hackett ’67 and the John L. Stasiak Private Foundation. A total of 23 sponsors contributed to the fund, along with 250 individual donors.
Board Chair Patricia J. Mitchell and trustees Helen Passano and Barbara Wolf, alumnae of Notre Dame’s Class of 1969, made a surprise announcement at the event that their combined commitments will bring total support to the Seurkamp Fund to $1 million.