DelGiorno gift will aid student life on campus

About 80 students, administrators and friends of the College gathered in a second-floor conference room in Harper in the afternoon Friday, April 7, to honor Bernard DelGiorno (AB, ’54, M.B.A.,’55), for his $5 million gift to help establish a Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, to renovate Stagg Field and to help build a student residence hall for 900 students.

“Bernie has been a longstanding supporter of the College and our students, and we are extremely grateful for this extraordinary gift,” said John Boyer, Dean of the College and the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor in History, who announced the gift at the reception.

“Bernie represents school spirit in all its best senses,” said President Randel. He said the gift will help promote student life outside the classroom and remarked that he had enjoyed listening to DelGiorno as part of choruses during fraternity sing-along events at alumni reunions.

Honoring DelGiorno’s love of music, the student a capella group, Voices in Your Head, sang two numbers, including the Alma Mater. Students then presented DelGiorno with a framed copy of an announcement of his gift that was published in The Wall Street Journal.

“This gift will lead to the construction of the most modern dormitory in the country and provide more space for students to work on art. It should make campus life more enjoyable for students,” DelGiorno said.

In recognition of his gift, the University will name a house in his honor in the new College residence hall planned for a site south of the Midway.

DelGiorno is a first vice president of investments at UBS Financial Services, part of UBS AG.

Since he graduated, DelGiorno has pledged or contributed more than $3 million to the school, in addition to his latest gift.