NAMED FACILITIES

Caesars Foundation of Floyd County funds amphitheater at IU Southeast

In 2015, the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County gave $300,000 to support the building of The Caesars Foundation of Floyd County Amphitheater at IU Southeast.

Jerry Finn, executive director of the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, called the newly erected structure “impressive” and hopes it will be a positive addition to the beautiful campus.

“We hope to improve the quality of life for the community and the students on campus,” Finn said. “We saw the potential for events that could take place there, bringing new opportunities to our region.”

In addition to the amphitheater, the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County funded three grants supporting IU Southeast departments in 2015. A $20,000 grant to the Paul W. Ogle Cultural and Community Center at IU Southeast supported the 2014-15 performing arts season to offer free admission for students to the Children’s Series performances. To date, the Ogle Center has received $122,500 from the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County to support the Children’s Series.

“Education is one of the five primary areas the Caesars Foundation funds,” Finn said. “The committee saw the broad-based impact this grant could have on the community. The Ogle Center programs leave a lasting impression on the kids in our region. The folks there have been offering free programs to reach our kids long before free programming was popular.”

The Caesars Foundation of Floyd County also awarded a $5,000 grant to the IU Southeast School of Education to purchase classroom technology, and a $3,500 grant to the IU Southeast Career Development Center to create an online training module to facilitate internships.

“The investment that the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County has made is inspiring,” IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace said. “The Caesars Foundation is a true partner in our mission to provide educational opportunities to the people of our region.”

Photo of director of the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County Jerry Finn, Chancellor Ray Wallace, Judy Hess, New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan, and Kevin Zurschmiede

Amphitheater dedication ribbon cutting, 2015. From left to right: Jerry Finn, Ray Wallace, Judy Hess, Jeff Gahan, and Kevin Zurschmiede

Photo of an event at the IU Southeast amphitheater funded by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County

Summer Pops Festival, 2015

Photo of an event at the IU Southeast amphitheater funded by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County featuring the director of the Ogle Center, Kirk Randolph

Summer Pops Festival, 2015

Photo of an event at the IU Southeast amphitheater funded by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County

Summer Pops Festival, 2015

Photo of an event at the IU Southeast amphitheater funded by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County

Summer Pops Festival, 2015

Photo of an event at the IU Southeast amphitheater funded by Caesars Foundation of Floyd County

Summer Pops Festival, 2015

Arts at IU Southeast receive generous boost from alumni donors

In 2013, Indiana University Southeast announced a $655,000 gift to benefit the Paul W. Ogle Cultural and Community Center on campus from Millicent and Norman Stiefler.

The generous gift went to the Ogle Center Endowment Fund which helps support the Ogle Center’s production of cultural and educational programs and also enabled the Center to subsidize ticket prices ensuring performances remain affordable and accessible for the community.

The Ogle Center Recital Hall was renamed the Millicent and Norman Stiefler Recital Hall in appreciation of their support. The Stieflers are both IU alumni who have shown unwavering support to IU Southeast. They previously established two student scholarships in honor of Norman Stiefler’s late parents.

The David N. Stiefler Scholarship is geared to students in the Schools of Natural Science or Nursing who are interested in pre-dental, pre-medical or nursing and the Carolyn R. Stiefler Scholarship is geared to students in the School of Business who are interested in entrepreneurship.

In addition to their gift to the Ogle Center Endowment Fund, the Stieflers also continued their support of the arts by establishing the Sherri L. Stiefler Scholarship in honor of Norman Stiefler’s late sister. Sherri Stiefler was an education student at IU and a passionate musician. The Sherri L. Stiefler Scholarship will support students studying music.

“My parents and my sister, there were two things that they taught me that both Millicent and I have much appreciated,” Norman Stiefler said. “One is the importance of education and the other is that, if you can, you help where you can. So we wanted to be able to give this small gift to this wonderful school and these wonderful people.”

Photo of Millicent Stiefler, Norman Stiefler, Sandra Patterson-Randles, Jerry Wayne, Kirk Randolph posing with a large check

From left to right: Millicent Stiefler, Norman Stiefler, Sandra Patterson-Randles, Jerry Wayne, Kirk Randolph

Portrait of Norman Stiefler and Millicent Stiefler

Norman Stiefler and Millicent Stiefler

Photo of the Millicent and Norman Stiefler Recital Hall at IU Southeast

Stiefler Recital Hall

Unique Gifts