Centralight

Giving At halftime of CMU's football game on Veterans Day, 45 new military enlistees were sworn in during Military Appreciation Night ceremonies. Off -campusmotivation BY DAN DIGMANN Couple establishes fi rst CMU scholarship for military personnel and families taking online classes Jay and Diana Griesser thought the endowed scholarship they recently established would be similar to others already off ered at CMU. Turns out it's the fi rst of its kind. The Dr. Jay and Diana Griesser Endowed Scholarship is the fi rst award for students – specifi cally active duty United States military personnel and their immediate family members – enrolled in online courses off ered through CMU Off -Campus Programs. The scholarship also is available for active reserve U.S. military personnel and all federal civil service employees. "We were really surprised it was the fi rst such scholarship," says Jay Griesser, who served in the Army and has taught for more than two decades as an adjunct professor at several of the nearly 60 CMU Off -Campus Programs centers nationwide. "The G.I. Bill paid for my undergraduate degree, and we thought a lot of people could use a scholarship like this." The Griessers believe desire, not money, should be the governing force for education and were interested in helping to make higher education a reality for families involved in the military and civil service. "We wanted to do what we could to give back and help this group of people who are giving so much," Diana says. "To do all they do and still have an interest in pursuing a degree says a lot about their motivation." The married couple of 35 years understands the eff ort required of such individuals. The Griessers each earned undergraduate and graduate degrees taking evening and weekend classes at Ohio institutions such as Baldwin-Wallace College and Cleveland State University, all while working full time and raising their daughters, Sheri and Melanie. Jay, who also earned a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, worked for 40 years in the U.S. Department of Defense and recently retired as its chief information offi cer in Cleveland. Diana is a certifi ed public accountant who has spent 25 years in the tax departments of companies such as Parker Hannifi n, American Greetings and Starwood Vacation Ownership. Jay fi rst heard about teaching at CMU from others within the Department of Defense. He teaches classes related to project management and software engineering. Before teaching online, he'd take a vacation day on Friday and fl y from his home in Cleveland to teach weekend classes at learning centers and military bases across the country. "I'm glad CMU has undergone a metamorphosis in providing online classes and extending its campus to other parts of the world," says Griesser, who now lives with his wife in Florida. "A lot of CMU students are highly motivated, and the online classes fi t well with their busy lifestyles." The fi rst Dr. Jay and Diana Griesser Endowed Scholarship will be awarded later this year, with preference given to students enrolled in programs leading to graduate degrees in business or information technology. • centralight spring '10 29 Campaign boosts gift's value Timing is everything. Just ask Jay and Diana Griesser, who saw the value of their $25,000 CMU endowment gift instantly increase to $37,500 because they gave it during the Annual University Campaign. During the campaign, which is held late each fall, CMU provides a 50 percent match for each donation given by university faculty, staff and retirees. To learn more about the Annual University Campaign and how you can make the most of your gift or pledge to CMU, contact Bryan Griffi n, director of annual giving. • griff 3bl@cmich.edu • 989-774-7112 •

• Cover