The moment. The place. The people. These three themes were in sharp focus at the inaugural Honored Benefactors Celebration held on April 11.  

The centerpiece of the ceremony was the unveiling of a new recognition wall in the Ann Kerwin Garden overlooking the Eric A. Friedheim Quadrangle, with featured speakers Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls, Residence Hall Association President Marcus McNeill, SPA/BA ’26, and President Sylvia M. Burwell. A dinner reception at AU House followed the event. 

Honored Benefactors, launched in Fall 2023, represents AU’s newest philanthropic recognition program. Membership is bestowed upon AU community members who have contributed $1 million more in their lifetimes or through estate intentions. In addition to having their names embossed on the wall, Honored Benefactors receive bespoke stewardship and event opportunities.  

Present at the ceremony (held indoors in Bender Library due to rain) were members of the inaugural cohort. More than 100 names are currently listed on the Honored Benefactors wall, comprising alumni, past and present members of the Board of Trustees, faculty emeriti, and former university leaders.  

In her introductory remarks, Surls cited the three themes—moment, place, and people—as testaments to the day’s meaning. 

With AU racing ahead toward the $500 million finish line of its Change Can’t Wait campaign, Surls explained how the university is marking an “unprecedented time” in AU history. The Honored Benefactors program leverages this milestone to celebrate those who have brought AU to this point and to further cultivate a culture of philanthropy.  

Equally fitting is the central placement of the recognition wall on the quad.  

“This location on the Eric A. Freidheim Quadrangle is a symbolic heart of our campus,” said Surls. “Because you are the heart. Your names stitch the fabric of AU.” 

Your generosity plots the map of daily life here at AU.

The legacy of the inaugural cohort of Honored Benefactors cannot be overstated. Through their extraordinary philanthropy, the people represented on the wall have been bridge builders and believers, creators and catalysts.  

“Your generosity plots the map of daily life here at AU,” concluded Surls. “You’ve created: the places students call home while living on campus, the scholarships that make dreams reality, and the internships that launch careers; the funding that supports a faculty team’s research, the guest lecturer invited to campus, the staff who make it possible; the spaces where alumni cheer on their Eagle teams, reunite with former classmates near and far, and access the resources needed to thrive. 

“Simply put, you, our Honored Benefactors, have made AU the place it is today.”