An Otterbein alumnus anonymously committed $1,000,000 to create an endowed professorship for the Department of Engineering. Beginning in 2031, this prestigious endowment will support a distinguished faculty member and supplement the professor’s research and academic activities, thereby enhancing learning outcomes for students.
The Hargis Family Foundation has completed its $200,000 pledge in support of Phase Two of the Campus Center Renovation Project. The renovation was completed in February and includes the Cardinals Nest dining hall, 1847 Room for private dining and meetings, and updates to the kitchen.
Barbara Keelor has established the The Robert S. Keelor ’55 Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit students majoring in Music. The gift honors the memory of her husband, Robert Keelor ’55, who passed away in 2021. At Otterbein, Robert majored in Business Administration and was a member of the tennis team and Zeta Phi fraternity. After graduating, he earned a law degree and founded International Display Systems, Inc., in Dayton.
Rev. Gerald “Jerry” Bell P’01, has established a $500,000 planned gift for Otterbein to create two endowed scholarships to honor his daughter, Janet Bell Norris-Peterson ’01, and his son, Michael Scott Bell, who passed away in 1986 before being able to realize his dreams and aspirations. The scholarships will support undergraduate students pursuing Music, Theatre, Dance, or Engineering studies — inspired by Janet and Michael’s love of these artistic and academic disciplines. Now retired, Jerry served in both the Evangelical United Brethren and United Methodist churches for several decades.
William Fotis and the Fotis Family established The William and Eleanor Fotis Family Endowed Scholarship which can be awarded to a deserving Otterbein student from any academic discipline. In addition to an outright gift of $27,000 to endow and initiate the new endowed fund, William has generously provided a $400,000 commitment to increase the Fotis Family Endowment later through his estate. Finally, William also provided $10,500 allocated across the other six Fotis endowed funds already assisting Otterbein students.
Through the Citrine Foundation, Annie Baumann Ames ’86 gifted $251,000 to support the Campus Center Renovation Project, helping make possible the completion of the Cardinals Nest dining hall and the 1847 Room. The gift was part of a $1,000,000 commitment made in 2022.
The Westerville Otterbein Women’s Club continued to meet the needs of Otterbein students through $67,000 in donations in support of the following endowments: Westerville Otterbein Women’s Club Scholarship, Westerville Otterbein Women’s Club Service Scholarship, Westerville Otterbein Women’s Club Diamond Jubilee Fund, and the Donna Kerr Scholarship. In addition, the philanthropic group provided a significant grant to the Westerville Otterbein Women’s Club Diamond Jubilee Fund to go to work immediately providing emergency funding to students. Finally, the club provided an additional $10,000 to support the Campus Center Renovation Project — for a total of $77,000.
Otterbein to Increase Gift Minimum to Establish Named Scholarship Endowments
Since its founding in 1847, donor support has been the cornerstone of Otterbein, propelling it to be a bold leader in higher education, regionally, and nationally. Building on the historic philanthropic support from Otterbein’s last $50 million comprehensive campaign and its most recent $11+ million fundraising year, Otterbein is taking steps to further maximize the impact of its endowments to benefit talented, deserving students. Beginning July 1, 2026, the minimum gift required to establish a named endowed scholarship will increase from $25,000 to $50,000.
Endowments created for non-scholarship purposes will remain at the current $25,000 minimum level. The new minimum will not apply to commitments already in place or new gifts and pledges for endowments made by June 30, 2026.
Now is the time to make a lasting impact that will live in perpetuity by creating your own named scholarship endowment.
When creating a named endowment, donors decide:
- The name of the endowed fund.
- The criteria for awarding.
- Future family members who receive impact reports.
- The pledge structure and timing.
Donors who create endowments receive:
- Annual financial reports on their fund(s).
- Information about their scholarship recipient(s).
- Otterbein insider news, information, and special invitations
41% of Otterbein’s endowment is earmarked for student scholarship dollars.
Changing Lives, One Student at a Time
The Otterbein students and recent graduates featured in this issue of Towers are benefiting from our donor’s generosity through these scholarships and awards:
Kennedy Berry ’27
Otterbein College Memorial Scholarship
Jeannette Dut ’25
Mafi-Tabatabai Endowed Award
Isabel Elliott ’25
Felipe Martinez Humanitarian Award and the Torch & Key Award
Sydnee Goff ’26
Bert and Jane Horn Endowed Student Research Fund in the Sciences and the United Methodist Christian Service Scholarship
For more information on how you can take advantage of the lower minimum endowment level before July 1, 2026, contact Kathleen Bonte, executive director of development, at 614-823-2707 or kbonte@otterbein.edu.
Grants, Corporate, and Foundation Support
Grants help to provide essential funding for new programs, research, and other areas that directly impact our students. Otterbein faculty and administrators have received 10 GRANTS totaling $186,759 this spring and summer. Highlights include:
Ohio Department of Higher Education
Cardinal Connections Campus Unity and Campus Partners in Prevention
AMOUNT: $40,000 – two grants
The Ohio Department of Higher Education awarded Otterbein two grants totaling $40,000. The first supports the Cardinal Connection student team and campus partners in leading a community-driven initiative to encourage intergroup collaboration and foster inclusivity. The second, a Campus Partners in Prevention grant, will fund projects designed to provide additional support for commuter students.
Ohio Arts Council
Frank Museum General Operating, Sustainability Grant for Music Department Public Performances, and LEAD Conference Library Staff Scholarship
AMOUNT: : $37,644
The Ohio Arts Council awarded Otterbein a total of $37,644 to support operations of the Frank Museum of Art, Otterbein’s Music Department public performances, and a scholarship grant for a library staffer to attend the 2025 LEAD Conference. The Music Department’s recent award is the third-year disbursement of a four-year grant to support artist fees for various public performances including the Westerville Symphony Orchestra Masterworks and Holiday concerts, and other music events engaging the community.
Allstate Foundation
The Otterbein CardinalCorps College Service Program
AMOUNT: $10,000
This grant will fund micro-grants for Otterbein students who mobilize their student organizations to develop new community partnerships and service projects; provide transportation to increase access for students to Otterbein’s 12 existing student-led weekly volunteer programs; and deepen the impact of current programs by developing innovative new activities and reflection opportunities.
NCAA Division III
NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant
AMOUNT: $90,611
Otterbein received a four-year NCAA Strategic Alliance Grant to fund the hiring of an associate director of athletic communications for multimedia. Key job responsibilities focus on Athletic Department event promotion through advertising and social media.
