Posted 7:24 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2013
Co-workers call him enthusiastic, a team player, a problem solver and just plain positive to be around. That’s UW-L Foundation Director of Collegiate Gifts Pat Stephens or “Positive Pat.” Stephens retired Oct. 31.
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At Pat Stephens' retirement reception on Thursday, Oct. 31, his UW-L Advancement colleagues presented him with a check representing a UW-L Foundation scholarship that was established in his name. The $1,000 Pat Stephens Scholarship will be awarded to a UW-L student spring semester. Stephens is pictured on the left.[/caption]
Co-workers call him enthusiastic, a team player, a problem solver and just plain positive to be around. That’s UW-L Foundation Director of Collegiate Gifts Pat Stephens or “Positive Pat.”
“He will bring anyone up. He really will. And I think people are just comfortable around him,” says Sara Olson, co-worker in the UW-L Foundation.
Stephens’ positive nature is a plus in the relationship-building profession he’s held since 1979 with the UW-L Foundation. He meets with prospective donors to help them direct gifts to support campus and the UW-L student scholarship fund. Stephens retired Oct. 31.
Stephens, ’71, a social studies and English major, says he still is excited by the energy and ambition on campus at the start of fall semester as he was 35 years ago. He’s watched the campus grow from 6,000 to more than 10,000 students today and the number of campus buildings double since he was a student in the in the 1960s.
Stephens contributed to that growth. He led fundraising for construction of the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center and helped secure donations for Centennial Hall and the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. Along with other development staff, he has taken pride building the student scholarship fund payouts from about $25,000 per year when he started to more than $650,000 per year today.
[caption id="attachment_4221" align="alignright" width="300"]
Pat Stephens pictured at his retirement reception. For about 35 years, Stephens has built relationships with UW-L alumni, friends and community members while raising funds for the UW-L Foundation.[/caption]
“What keeps you going on those bad days is you believe in the cause,” says Stephens. “It’s helping others by the asks you make. Our office sees hundreds of thank you notes about what these gifts mean to students and families.”
Over the years Stephens has held some prestigious roles, including director of university advancement and external relations, chief executive officer of the UW-L Foundation, and director of development and alumni relations.
“I’ve never seen anyone who can rally the troops to get people behind a project like Pat does,” says Janie Spencer, director of the UW-L Alumni Association.
For the last 15 years or more, Stephens has focused efforts within specific colleges including the College of Business Administration. He spearheaded CBA events, including the annual Silver Eagles Take an Eagle to Lunch. With former CBA Dean Bill Colclough, he created the CBA annual golf outing, which benefits study abroad scholarships for CBA students. He helped start and continue alumni events in Madison, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities, as well as a CBA Distinguished Lecture Series. For about 25 years he was calling, emailing, and driving hundreds of miles to build relationships and stay connected with CBA alums, says Colclough.
“He was instrumental in my time as dean in terms of developing those relationships and networks that put in place events, activities and relationships that will go on for years… and that will help the CBA enhance the learning environment for our students,” says Colclough who now teaches in the CBA. “It’s a long-lasting contribution to the education of College of Business Administration students.”
[caption id="attachment_4222" align="alignleft" width="550"]
Stephens, of Holmen, has a wife, four children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to coming to UW-L, he was a teacher and coach for the Kiel, Wis., public school system and a Fidelity Union Life Insurance Co. agent and manager in La Crosse.[/caption]
Stephens says his favorite part of the job comes back to the basics — sitting down at the kitchen table to meet with former alumni and friends of the university. They are people who, like him, have a long-term love for their school.
“The thing I’ve enjoyed most is the personal relationships and friendships that bridge the gap between the campus experience and life after graduation,” he says. “I’ve met some of the most generous, philanthropic people you could run into — people who have been very successful in their professional lives and want to turn around and give something back and know I can be the conduit to make that happen.”
Stephens says his retirement is not a permanent goodbye. He plans to come back to visit at UW-L socials and functions.
Stephens in the community
Stephens is well known in the La Crosse community for his leadership in the coordination of various events including: Rotary Lights, Irish Fest, Airfest, Freedom Fest and Riverfest. He doesn’t foresee his community involvement changing with retirement, adding, “Maybe there is some other festival that needs to get started that we haven’t even thought of yet!”
See photos from Pat Stephens party
At Pat Stephens' retirement reception on Thursday, Oct. 31, his UW-L Advancement colleagues presented him with a check representing a UW-L Foundation scholarship that was established in his name. The $1,000 Pat Stephens Scholarship will be awarded to a UW-L student spring semester. Stephens is pictured on the left.[/caption]
Co-workers call him enthusiastic, a team player, a problem solver and just plain positive to be around. That’s UW-L Foundation Director of Collegiate Gifts Pat Stephens or “Positive Pat.”
“He will bring anyone up. He really will. And I think people are just comfortable around him,” says Sara Olson, co-worker in the UW-L Foundation.
Stephens’ positive nature is a plus in the relationship-building profession he’s held since 1979 with the UW-L Foundation. He meets with prospective donors to help them direct gifts to support campus and the UW-L student scholarship fund. Stephens retired Oct. 31.
Stephens, ’71, a social studies and English major, says he still is excited by the energy and ambition on campus at the start of fall semester as he was 35 years ago. He’s watched the campus grow from 6,000 to more than 10,000 students today and the number of campus buildings double since he was a student in the in the 1960s.
Stephens contributed to that growth. He led fundraising for construction of the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center and helped secure donations for Centennial Hall and the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. Along with other development staff, he has taken pride building the student scholarship fund payouts from about $25,000 per year when he started to more than $650,000 per year today.
[caption id="attachment_4221" align="alignright" width="300"] Pat Stephens pictured at his retirement reception. For about 35 years, Stephens has built relationships with UW-L alumni, friends and community members while raising funds for the UW-L Foundation.[/caption]
“What keeps you going on those bad days is you believe in the cause,” says Stephens. “It’s helping others by the asks you make. Our office sees hundreds of thank you notes about what these gifts mean to students and families.”
Over the years Stephens has held some prestigious roles, including director of university advancement and external relations, chief executive officer of the UW-L Foundation, and director of development and alumni relations.
“I’ve never seen anyone who can rally the troops to get people behind a project like Pat does,” says Janie Spencer, director of the UW-L Alumni Association.
For the last 15 years or more, Stephens has focused efforts within specific colleges including the College of Business Administration. He spearheaded CBA events, including the annual Silver Eagles Take an Eagle to Lunch. With former CBA Dean Bill Colclough, he created the CBA annual golf outing, which benefits study abroad scholarships for CBA students. He helped start and continue alumni events in Madison, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities, as well as a CBA Distinguished Lecture Series. For about 25 years he was calling, emailing, and driving hundreds of miles to build relationships and stay connected with CBA alums, says Colclough.
“He was instrumental in my time as dean in terms of developing those relationships and networks that put in place events, activities and relationships that will go on for years… and that will help the CBA enhance the learning environment for our students,” says Colclough who now teaches in the CBA. “It’s a long-lasting contribution to the education of College of Business Administration students.”
[caption id="attachment_4222" align="alignleft" width="550"] Stephens, of Holmen, has a wife, four children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to coming to UW-L, he was a teacher and coach for the Kiel, Wis., public school system and a Fidelity Union Life Insurance Co. agent and manager in La Crosse.[/caption]
Stephens says his favorite part of the job comes back to the basics — sitting down at the kitchen table to meet with former alumni and friends of the university. They are people who, like him, have a long-term love for their school.
“The thing I’ve enjoyed most is the personal relationships and friendships that bridge the gap between the campus experience and life after graduation,” he says. “I’ve met some of the most generous, philanthropic people you could run into — people who have been very successful in their professional lives and want to turn around and give something back and know I can be the conduit to make that happen.”
Stephens says his retirement is not a permanent goodbye. He plans to come back to visit at UW-L socials and functions.
Stephens in the community
Stephens is well known in the La Crosse community for his leadership in the coordination of various events including: Rotary Lights, Irish Fest, Airfest, Freedom Fest and Riverfest. He doesn’t foresee his community involvement changing with retirement, adding, “Maybe there is some other festival that needs to get started that we haven’t even thought of yet!”
See photos from Pat Stephens party