Higher Education

University Center for the Arts

In 1996, Colorado State University purchased the old Fort Collins High School Building, a classic building of great historic value to the community. There the University Center for the Arts will become a reality with 100,000 square feet of classroom space and new performance venues, including two theatres, a recital hall and a 550 seat concert hall. The University Center for the Arts will give performing and cultural artists from C.S.U. and the community unprecedented opportunities to learn, create and perform, bringing a new dimension of aesthetic enrichment to the entire community.

In 2004, the foundation paid the last of two installments of a $2,000,000 pledge for the construction of the Edna Rizley Griffin Concert Hall. This beautiful concert hall opened May, 2004, with state-of-the-art acoustics and furnishings in keeping with the motto of the Center, "to inspire the human spirit"

Griffin Scholars

A scholarship program was established in 1994 that now provides financial assistance of $5,000 each semester to selected students who have received an associate degree from a community or junior college and who expect to receive a baccalaureate degree in no more than four semesters. The scholarships are available only to students who qualify for resident tuition and enroll at Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado or the University of Wyoming.

Evaluation of applicants is based on scholarship, citizenship, work history and obstacles they have overcome (financial and otherwise) to achieve their educational goals. The blue ribbon committee comprised of professional educators and community leaders reviews the applications, interviews the finalists and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors. As a result, eight awards were made to "Griffin Scholars" for the 2004-2005 academic year. These students joined six "Griffin Scholars" from the previous year. Total support of these outstanding young citizens has aggregated $1,091,865 since the inception of the program.

Volunteer members of the committee include Gladys Eddy, Brownie McGraw, Bea Griffin, Pete Simpson, Larry E. Scott, C. William Herzog, Dr.Yolanda Penley, Jerry Rizley and David L. Wood. Carol B. Wood serves as the program director.

Eddy Teaching Award

Willard Eddy was professor emeritus at Colorado State University at the time of his death in 1993. His career at CSU spanned six decades in which he provided unparalleled leadership in the development of the Philosophy and English departments and the University's Honors Program. In addition to his vision, energy and leadership in the development of academic disciplines in the Liberal Arts at CSU, he was also a distinguished classroom teacher. Willard loved to teach, and his efforts inspired generations of students to greater personal accomplishments.

The foundation awards an annual stipend of $1,000 to a faculty member in Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences at CSU selected each year by students and colleagues as the outstanding classroom teacher. The "Willard Eddy Teaching Award" is intended to honor persons possessing those communication skills and inspirational motivation that we believe are at the very least as important as accomplishment in research and publications.

Gladys Eddy Endowed Scholarship Fund

Gladys Eddy has served Colorado State University in several capacities throughout her career of more than sixty years. In recognition of her loyal and steadfast service and her many contributions to the university, an endowed scholarship fund has been established in her name. The foundation granted $10,000 in support of this endowment.

Intercollegiate Athletics

The foundation has continued a tradition established long ago by Pat Griffin to provide modest assistance to the athletic program at Colorado State University in the belief that these activities, while secondary to academic pursuits, are nevertheless an important element in the overall goals of the university and of the students' university experience. Grants paid last year were $4,000.

University of Wyoming

College of Health Sciences

The foundation has completed a multi-year pledge of $500,000 to support the relocation of the College of Health Sciences to the former Biochemistry Building on the U. W. Campus. This major remodeling project was completed in 2005.

Other Higher Education Grants

During 2004 the foundation made contributions aggregating $1,000 to the following recipients:

Turning Point Center for Youth $500

University of Northern Colorado Hispanic Students Program (CUMBRES) $500