Herrick Society Stories
Bequest Makes Donor's Wishes Known
Sylvia Price was affectionately known as "Aunt Syl" by her late niece, Joann Mullen, a school counselor and Kent State alumnus who remembered Kent State University in her will. Joann's generous legacy has created 15 Founders Medallion Scholarships for talented students in any field of study. Presenting the medallion award is Founders Scholar Danielle Posey.
At Joann Mullen's memorial service, a parent spoke up and said that Joann was the reason her son had stayed in high school. Joann, a school psychologist in Warren, Ohio, received her master's degree (in 1970) and doctorate (in 1994) from Kent State University. Joann dedicated her entire life to education. Even as she battled the breast cancer that eventually took her life, she was thinking of how she could encourage young people to pursue a college education.
When Joann passed away in January of 2003, at age 56, she had a plan in place to establish more than 20 unrestricted Founders Medallion Scholarships, a full tuition award that is the most prestigious given at Kent State University. Named in memory of her parents, The Esther Akselrad Mullen and Israel Mullen Medallion Scholarships will be awarded to high-achieving high school students who wish to attend Kent State.
"Children were very important to her, even though she was never married and never had any kids of her own," said her accountant and family friend, Jon Rogen. By working closely with Kent State's Gift Planning Office, Rogen was able to ensure that Joann's legacy was used for the purpose she intended, rather than going to pay estate and other taxes.
"Joann never considered herself. She always considered others first," said Sylvia Price, her aunt. "She lived a simple life," working as a school counselor until she was too ill to continue, Price said.
In 2001, knowing that she had cancer, Joann had called Kent State Director of Gift Planning Joe Macedo to formulate a philanthropic plan that reflected her personal values. She never mentioned that she was seriously ill, nor the amount she planned to leave. Macedo provided Joann with specific language to put in her will and worked closely with her to create endowment guidelines for the Founders Medallion Scholarships. By creating this document and making reference to it in her will, Joann assured that the university would be able to use the funds as she intended.
"Joann had the tremendous foresight—and courage—to put her affairs in order ahead of time under very trying circumstances," said Macedo. "We simply would not have known what to do with these funds had she not contacted us," he said. Now Joann's legacy will live on in perpetuity, fulfilling the purpose she cared so much about during life.
Herrick Society StoriesBequest Makes Donor's Wishes Known
At Joann Mullen's memorial service, a parent spoke up and said that Joann was the reason her son had stayed in high school. Joann, a school psychologist in Warren, Ohio, received her master's degree (in 1970) and doctorate (in 1994) from Kent State University. Joann dedicated her entire life to education. Even as she battled the breast cancer that eventually took her life, she was thinking of how she could encourage young people to pursue a college education. When Joann passed away in January of 2003, at age 56, she had a plan in place to establish more than 20 unrestricted Founders Medallion Scholarships, a full tuition award that is the most prestigious given at Kent State University. Named in memory of her parents, The Esther Akselrad Mullen and Israel Mullen Medallion Scholarships will be awarded to high-achieving high school students who wish to attend Kent State. "Children were very important to her, even though she was never married and never had any kids of her own," said her accountant and family friend, Jon Rogen. By working closely with Kent State's Gift Planning Office, Rogen was able to ensure that Joann's legacy was used for the purpose she intended, rather than going to pay estate and other taxes. "Joann never considered herself. She always considered others first," said Sylvia Price, her aunt. "She lived a simple life," working as a school counselor until she was too ill to continue, Price said. In 2001, knowing that she had cancer, Joann had called Kent State Director of Gift Planning Joe Macedo to formulate a philanthropic plan that reflected her personal values. She never mentioned that she was seriously ill, nor the amount she planned to leave. Macedo provided Joann with specific language to put in her will and worked closely with her to create endowment guidelines for the Founders Medallion Scholarships. By creating this document and making reference to it in her will, Joann assured that the university would be able to use the funds as she intended. "Joann had the tremendous foresight—and courage—to put her affairs in order ahead of time under very trying circumstances," said Macedo. "We simply would not have known what to do with these funds had she not contacted us," he said. Now Joann's legacy will live on in perpetuity, fulfilling the purpose she cared so much about during life. |