A new educational space at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was completed in 2021, thanks to the generous donations by a Woods alum and her husband. On Thursday, a dedication ceremony was held for the new outdoor classroom.
Nancy Butler Bruck ’69 and husband, Morgan “Morg” Bruck, sought to remember Nancy’s parents — and they could think of no better way than to fund the Mary and Bayless Butler Classroom.
For Nancy, Le Fer Lake is a place near and dear to her heart. She describes it as magical. She remembers when she would ice skate on the lake — even when she and her classmates were advised not to. Dedicating it to her parents was an emotional and rewarding way for her to honor their legacy.
“I’m just thrilled we could do this,” Nancy said. “I know my parents would be really happy.”
Morg said a friend from church once said something to him that resonated with him as they decided to contribute to this project, “All I have, all I am, all I hope to be, I owe to God.” With this in mind, Morg said he and Nancy knew they needed to give some of what they had been blessed with back. “That is how we got the idea, and the love of Baylee and Mary is what drove it through. I hope this space does for The Woods what you hoped and more,” he said.
It is a place for students to learn and practice science. Located adjacent to Le Fer Lake, it will serve as a hub for education, emphasizing environmental science and sustainability.
The space also serves as a recreational space for students and features a large fire pit for gatherings.
“Your belief has done something significant here,” said Dottie L. King, Ph.D., president, to the Brucks at the dedication. “We’re blessed by it. We’re already well using it well, and have incorporated this structure into our daily College lives.”
Students and employees have reaped the benefits of this multifunctional space. Recently, senior environmental science and writing major Tavia Hedrick utilized the classroom for her studies. She was able to collect samples and conduct tests on-site.
“Having access to an outdoor space adds so much to the student experience as an environmental science student,” Hedrick explained as she shared remarks on behalf of the student body. “It also creates a new home for students of any major to come and relax or do homework within this peaceful and welcoming outdoor environment.”
Hedrick and King thanked the Brucks for their spirit and generosity.
“It is because of your generosity that we will be able to further our mission of sustainability and learn how to be the best stewards possible for Mother Earth,” Hedrick said.
“We dreamed about this structure for a long time,” King said. “We have created something special here. I’ve been blessed this fall to see how it has been used, and it has been used beyond my expectations.”
Nancy and Morg were honored at the ceremony as they were presented with an SMWC tie and scarf for their enduring spirit and generosity as they attained membership in the Onyx Society for making cumulative gifts of $100,000 or more. They were also given a miniature version of the dedication plaque.
Jim Brinson, Ph.D., associate professor of ecology, utilizes the classroom for his courses. Housed in the classroom are kayaks used to study and measure water quality and animal life in the lake. Brinson offered a blessing prayer for the space and on those who helped make the structure possible and who will utilize it. Following, each attendee was given a small bottle of Holy Water to bless the structure individually.
“Father, we ask for your Providence as we learn and grow in this classroom and here at The Woods,” he said.
The classroom is part of the Le Fer Lake and habitat project, which has been a decade in the making. In addition to the Bruck’s contributions, the restoration has been made possible through the generosity of and partnerships with the Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation, 181st Intelligence Wing of the Air National Guard, the Indiana Wildlife Federation, Duke Energy, Center Point Energy, Vigo County Solid Waste District, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nancy Payonk ’81, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation and the Sisters of Providence.
