John and Pauline Kiltinen had already given a lot to the
Northern Michigan University community before their recent establishment of a $100,000 endowment.
But the Marquette couple wanted to do more to encourage original, new initiatives relating to the school's mathematics and computer science department, where John taught. So they have pledged the $100,000 to create the Kiltinen Mathematics and Computer Science Idea Endowment, as well as a gift of $10,000 that's immediately usable to begin funding projects this semester.
The idea behind the endowment is to support new programs that might not otherwise be considered, because they are ineligible or otherwise unfunded through traditional means.
"I don't want to see good ideas killed before they can be fleshed out because there aren't existing funds to support them," says John Kiltinen, who retired from NMU in 2007 after 36 years of teaching. "The main objective is to help enrich the experience for Northern students. Preference will be given to projects that will give them learning opportunities beyond the classroom."
The Kiltinens' gift will be put to use right away, in fact, covering expenses for three keynote speakers at NMU as part of a regional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America, in October.
J.D. Phillips, head of the NMU mathematics and computer science department, says the Kiltinens' gift will enable many worthy projects.
"John's emphasis is on students and teaching," Phillips says. "I like the fact he wants the criteria to remain flexible to promote the most creative use of funds."
In coming years, award amounts from the endowment will be based on the earnings available, and the number of appropriate proposals.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: J.D. Phillips, Northern Michigan University
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