Annual Support Programs

Chairman's Letter

Dear Alumnus,

I have been writing to you as chairman of the Stevens Fund for two years, and over that time, we have seen a growing level of support from Stevens alumni and friends. As Stevens grows its programs, faculty and student body, so too does the need for your continued generosity.

Walk on campus during any typical class day and you can feel the energy of the students and faculty. With a myriad of activities to choose from, today’s students have more opportunities to participate in the Stevens community than ever before.

The number of varsity sports has grown to 25, and we now field 12 varsity women’s sports teams. As you have witnessed over recent years, the competitiveness of athletic programs continues to intensify; Stevens regularly competes near the top of its division and has received many NCAA bids for post-season tournament play. As members of the Stevens family, the success of these athletic programs could not have been achieved without our help.

Stevens shows similar expansion in the many student clubs and organizations available on campus. While the fraternity and sorority communities prosper at Stevens, there are dozens of other campus organizations run by Stevens students for Stevens students. The student life organizations range from the performing arts (including music, dance and theater) to professional organizations. These organizations provoke innovative ideas and solutions to global problems that will inevitably transform these students into Stevens alumni who are contributing, pivotal members of the professional community. Again, none of this is possible without alumni and faculty volunteers and the continued contributions of the Stevens community.

Stevens also remains a pillar in the local community. Any one who has visited Hoboken during the past few years cannot help but be astonished at the metamorphosis of the city. One constant over the last 100 years is the Stevens campus, growing and transforming along with the community. Stevens hosts many events that draw local residents to our campus. Political, business and technical forums are common and enjoying increasing attendance. Several of these events are hosted in the Babbio Center, a landmark educational facility, which is home to the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management. A visit to the recently refurbished Grace E. and Kenneth W. DeBaun Auditorium will highlight one of the area’s best small theaters, seating 480 guests. “The Theater Company”, which has its home base at the DeBaun Auditorium, regularly hosts workshops and performances for all ages and interests, further exemplifying Stevens reach and contribution into the community.

I have run out of space far faster than I’ve run out of things to share about Stevens, but I hope the message is clear. Stevens is a leading university that deserves its position among the country’s elite. While all of these topics serve to illustrate some of the great things happening on campus outside of the classroom to develop our students, one point remains steadfast in the Stevens mission: to deliver the most comprehensive and intense education available to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students in the country. Stevens continues to attract the nation’s top students and has consistently increased the number of faculty and expanded its facilities. Stevens produces leading research in areas such as maritime research, national security, and technology management; Technogensis® continues to receive national recognition for its efforts in growing research concepts into commercial viability. We have grown our research grants, increased our funding for endowed chairs, and expanded our scholarship program.

There has never been a better time to be a member of the Stevens family, and there has never been a time to be more proud. These initiatives, and others, would never be realized without our continued support. Show your pride in Stevens by giving back what the Institute has so generously given to you. Your support ensures that Stevens will remain a prominent fixture on the landscape of educational and research excellence for generations to come.

Sincerely yours,

John C. Rizzuto ’89
Chairman, Stevens Fund