Winter 2016 GVMagazine - (Page 16)
DON O R I M PAC T
Corporate partners
help advance
university's mission
E
ach year, the brothers who own and
operate DeWitt Barrels Inc. meet to
choose which nonprofit organizations to
support financially and with their time.
Among the criteria they consider,
according to Peter DeWitt, is an
organization or entity that will "leave
something lasting and identifiable to our
children and other generations."
In 2006, Peter and his brothers,
Michael and Tim, created and endowed
a scholarship for Grand Valley students
who are majoring in environmental science
and natural resources management. It's a
natural fit for the family-owned business
that was established in Chicago in 1893.
Michael said the DeWitt Barrels
Environmental Science and Natural
Resources Scholarship follows the
company's philosophy of being an
environmental leader. In 1999, DeWitt
Barrels was designated a Clean Corporate
Citizen by the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality.
"We have a very good reputation in
the state for being a safe place for drum
disposal," Michael said. "The scholarship
accentuates our commitment to the
environment and to the generations
that follow."
DeWitt Barrels is one example of an
area business establishing a relationship
with Grand Valley in an effort to build a
stronger workforce for Michigan. Shannon
Wilson, director of corporate giving at
Grand Valley, called the company an
amazing partner.
"DeWitt Barrels is a family-owned
business and that's a cornerstone in the
West Michigan business landscape,"
Wilson said. "Grand Valley was built on
private/public partnerships."
Wilson remarked that DeWitt Barrels
and other corporate partners help Grand
Valley meet its mission of increasing
student access by offsetting costs. In
addition to establishing scholarships, there
are numerous other ways for corporate
partners to engage with Grand Valley's
resources, including having student
project teams solve real-world issues,
establishing an internship program, and
obtaining entrepreneurial resources.
16
Winter '16
Casey VerStrate, '12,
was the first DeWitt
Barrels scholarship
recipient. VerStrate
was a dual major
in economics and
natural resources
management.
photo by Amanda Pitts
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2016 GVMagazine
Campus News
Focal Point
Athletics
Donor Impact
A Team of Their Own
Meijer Campus
Empowered. Educated. Engineers.
Breathing Life into Historic Sites
Sustainability
Research
Q&A Snell and Stanton
Alumni News
Off the Path
Winter 2016 GVMagazine
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