Largest gift in IU Kokomo history to help sustain new facility

"The Science Building was perfect because science is what my father taught, and I remember the old science building behind the Seiberling House, where the IU basketball and football films were shown," said Bill Hunt. An IU alumnus, Bill Hunt served as chair and CEO of Arvin Industries of Columbus before his retirement. At IU President Myles Brand's request, he is undertaking a project to expand IU's economic engagement with the state and those industries that utilize the university's technology.

In addition to the portion of the gift which will be used for the general support of Hunt Hall, including equipment needs and future improvement or renovation needs, the Hunt gift will be used for the support and maintenance of the Virgil and Elizabeth Hunt Scholars program. The Hunt Scholarships are awarded solely on merit to students majoring in science or science education.

Bill Hunt describes his hopes for the future of science education at IU Kokomo: "As our Indiana economy continues its evolution from low to high technology jobs in all sectors, science—which is the backbone of technology—will become even more important in the education of the workers of tomorrow."

Virgil Hunt, who currently resides in Indianapolis, served as the youngest college president in the United States at the former Central Normal College in Danville, taught U.S. military personnel at IU, and worked as a military research scientist at Johns Hopkins University before coming to Kokomo as the first administrator of the Kokomo Extension, which later became IU Kokomo. Hunt oversaw the tremendous expansion of the campus and maintained an active role in the community including the presidencies of the Kokomo Rotary Club and the Howard County Mental Health Association. He was married to Elizabeth Hunt for 63 years, until her death in March 2001.

Editor's note: See our online scrapbook of IU Kokomo's new building at this HP Web address:
http://homepages.indiana.edu/101201/text/IUK_science.html

For an expanded story on the re-named facility:
http://www.iuk.edu/external-relations/ocm/news/Feb02/huntgift.html