June 2, 2009

With another successful commencement celebrated and our graduates off to points across our nation and around the world, ready to make their marks, the days of summer lie open before us. As I reflect on this past academic year, I am heartened by our accomplishments and optimistic about Creighton’s future. In this spirit of gratitude and hopefulness, I briefly share with you some very good news.

Creighton University recently became the recipient of the largest bequest in our history. This estate gift — in excess of $40 million — is from longtime donors who care deeply about our academic mission and believe in the transformative power of a Creighton education and the power of philanthropy to do good for society. These benefactors are earmarking their transformational bequest to support undergraduate student scholarships. We are incredibly grateful for the untold benefits countless students will receive from this remarkable couple’s generosity, not to mention the ripple effect that will flow exponentially to those students’ future families and communities. 

Another transformative opportunity lies within the health sciences where we maintain unique strengths. Since 2005, the Creighton School of Medicine has had a medical clerkship relationship with St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. This relationship gave both organizations a shared tradition of academic excellence, devotion to service, and commitment to Catholic values and traditions. In keeping with the actions of our Board of Directors, Creighton and St. Joseph’s Hospital/Phoenix will develop and operate a Creighton School of Medicine on a Phoenix campus proximate to the hospital. This project will be inaugurated June 30. This program will address both the shortage of physicians in the southwest and expand the School of Medicine’s overall class size, allowing more students to experience the benefits of a Catholic-centered medical education.

Finally, I am pleased to announce the most recent addition to the Creighton/Omaha skyline – construction of phase-two of the expansive University fitness, health and recreation center going up on our east campus. The first phase, the Ryan Center and D.J. Sokol arena is a work in progress and will be dedicated on Aug. 28, thanks to the generous support of the Eileen and Wayne Ryan family and the Peggy and David Sokol family. Our ability to begin the construction of the second phase has been made possible, in part, through the generous support of Ruth and Bill Scott. The new center reaffirms the Scotts’ belief that social, recreational and health opportunities are key to a student’s success and college experience. An additional element that makes this new facility special is that it will be named in honor of Bruce Rasmussen, our highly respected coach and Director of Athletics. Entering his 30th year at the University, Bruce has directed Creighton Athletics to a position of national prominence with integrity and class. Bruce is a role model for coaches and student-athletes alike.  Congratulations to Bruce.

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President