As the year 2000 closed on campus, news came of a number of especially significant gifts and grants, which brought the Defining Moments Campaign to a total of $59.3 million.

A silent Santa made an anonymous gift of $1 million in December, which will be dedicated to the Science Hall renovation project.

Just before press time, Congress passed its long delayed federal budget appropriations designating $921,000 to fund technology infrastructure at Wittenberg.

The appropriation marks the third year in a row that Rep. David L. Hobson has been successful in supporting science education at Wittenberg. The Springfield Congressman earlier secured two $1 million grants for Science Hall.

This latest grant will also help technology resources in the sciences and elsewhere on campus. Hobson has been a strong supporter of quality science education as a national priority, both as a matter of national security and to sustain the nation’s leadership in the global economy.

A bequest from the estate of Mary Lou Culp ’31 also increased the campaign total by $1.9 million. Familiar to many in the Wittenberg family, Culp led a long life dedicated to helping students.

Wittenberg University scholarships funded through the $1.9 million bequest from her estate will help continue her work in perpetuity. As part of the university endowment, the gift will provide scholarships to more than 30 students every year.

Culp was a highly regarded high school counselor and teacher for 43 years. She taught Latin, Spanish and English at Leesburg, Tiltonsville and Warren Consolidated Schools before completing her “first” career at Wyoming High School near Cincinnati.

After that, Culp served as assistant dean of admission at Wittenberg for nearly 10 years.

During her career, Culp received every major national honor for counseling, including the Cecil Dearing Award from the National Cum Laude Society and the Jack Scott Award from the Ohio Association of College Admission Counselors.

She also served on the executive boards of the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors.

In 1974, Wittenberg presented her with an Alumni Citation for outstanding achievement in her field, and seven years later, Culp was the recipient of the university’s prestigious Class of 1914 Award for her meritorious service to Wittenberg.

Culp retired from Wittenberg in 1987 but continued to work on behalf of the institution, officiating at college night programs and writing brochures for the Office of Admission.

For her leadership and dedication to Wittenberg as a church-related liberal arts institution and for her love of teaching and of students, the university bestowed on her its Medal of Honor in 1992.

On her Medal of Honor award, the university wrote: “Loyal and devoted alumna, astute and dedicated educator whose love of teaching, learning, students and Wittenberg is evidenced by every facet of her life, she has devoted her life to teaching young people and making a love of learning a part of their lives. ...

A truly gentle woman who deeply cares about people and enriches the lives of her students, friends and colleagues, she has encouraged hundreds of young people to reach for the stars.”

Culp died Jan. 21, 2000 at her home in Wyoming, Ohio at the age of 90.