Endowment honors Mike, Jane Sullivan

Mike & Jane Sullivan

   A gift honoring former Governor and First Lady Michael and Jane Sullivan will fund scholarships supporting University of Wyoming College of Education students who plan to pursue a teaching career in the state.
   The $100,000 gift from Texas residents Jeanne and Michael Klein establishes the Jane and Michael J. Sullivan Wyoming Teachers' Scholarship Fund. The new scholarship will be open to students showing financial need who are enrolled in College of Education academic programs and intend to teach in Wyoming schools upon graduation.  The state of Wyoming will match the Kleins' gift.
   Michael Klein describes the former governor as "a person of remarkable human dimensions-compassionate, wise, fairminded, strong, steeped with integrity and possessing a wonderful sense of humor. We feel privileged to award this scholarship in his and Jane's honor."
   "I believe, universally, that most colleges have great outside support except for colleges of education," Klein says of the family's motivation for establishing the endowment. "I am on a mission to give greater support to teachers, because we direly need quality educators at the elementary and secondary school level to provide our children with the education to which they're entitled and that is necessary for their success in this challenging world."
    "We are honored by the Kleins' gift to the University of Wyoming," the Sullivans say. "More importantly, we are grateful for the confidence in the University of Wyoming and share their belief in the importance of teachers and teacher education."
   College of Education Dean Pat McClurg expressed appreciation for the Kleins' generosity and their foresight in providing support where it can have significant impact.
   "With their gift establishing the Jane and Michael J. Sullivan Wyoming Teachers' Scholarship Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Klein have accomplished two goals simultaneously: recognizing the commitment to education of two extraordinary Wyoming residents, and helping to ensure that future generations of classroom teachers will be prepared and motivated to help fulfill that commitment," McClurg says. "This endowment will provide the flexibility we need to meet the state's evolving education needs, supporting individuals who are motivated to providing the highest-quality classroom experiences for their future students for generations to come."

Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007