Mueller’s million-dollar boost for student scholarships
Friends, family and members of the campus community gathered Sept. 5 to celebrate a $1 million gift by the late Craig A. Mueller to start a scholarship endowment in his name at his alma mater. That gift, the largest ever for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay scholarship fund and largest by an alumnus, will make scholarships available annually to students enrolled in both the Arts and Visual Design and Communication academic units.
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Nearly one hundred people — including friends of the late Craig Mueller and faculty and staff from communication and fine arts — gathered on campus at Lambeau Cottage Sept. 5 for a celebration of his million-dollar scholarship bequest.
Craig Mueller’s sister Marcia (right) welcomed visitors.
Sharing a moment, pre-ceremony, are three alumni: Steven Lambeau ’82 (center); Nancy Lambeau Makuen, a graduate of UW-Green Bay’s first class, in 1970; and State Sen. Dave Hansen, alumnus of its second, in 1971.
Interim Provost Bill Laatsch (right) spends time with Donald Makuen, a UW-Green Bay administrator at the time of the school’s founding in the late 1960s. Makuen was assistant chancellor of student affairs, and he was also the first athletics director.
The ceremony was held on the lawn of Lambeau Cottage, along the campus bayshore.
Interim Chancellor David Ward paid tribute to Mueller, who studied communication and the arts and graduated in 1971. The Green Bay native died last September and left $1 million to begin a scholarship endowment at his alma mater.
Marcia Mueller joked that at the moment in 1971 her brother, who took a long, winding road to graduation, finally crossed the stage to receive his degree, then-Chancellor Weidner joked, “It’s about time, Mueller.”
During the program, Marcia Mueller presented a ceremonial $10,000 check on behalf of her late brother to Interim Chancellor Ward and Ginny Riopelle, a co-founder of the Phuture Phoenix pre-college program.
Posing with the “big check” — representing $1 million, the largest gift by a UW-Green Bay alumnus and the largest gift for student scholarships — were student representative Charlie Simon, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Scott Furlong, Interim Chancellor Ward and Marcia Mueller.
David Ward and Marcia Mueller unveil an artist’s rendition of what will be the University’s tribute to the late Craig Mueller. A nautical-style flagpole display on the grounds of Lambeau Cottage will reflect Mueller’s lifelong love of sailing and his sponsorship of the remodeling of the property once owned by Packers founder Curly Lambeau.
A proud Marcia Mueller tells local TV crews of her late brother’s affinity for UW-Green Bay, and his now-realized dream of helping current and future students have a chance at a college education. For more on the Craig Mueller story and his inspirational gift to his alma mater and its students, go to the Press Release
Photos by Eric Miller
University Communications
