A Lifetime of Giving
68 generous individuals and couples were inducted as lifetime members of the Order of the May at Carnival 2024 ceremony
During Spring Carnival weekend, four current and former Carnegie Mellon University faculty and staff were among the 68 generous individuals and couples inducted as lifetime members of the Order of the May. The Order is composed of donors with an unbroken string of annual gifts to Carnegie Mellon. Members are welcomed after three years of consecutive giving and lifetime members are inducted at 25 years of consecutive giving.
Lifetime members demonstrate an extraordinary level of commitment to CMU and its mission. Each year, new lifetime members are celebrated during Spring Carnival and Reunion Weekend surrounded by their fellow supporters and CMU leadership. And for faculty and staff lifetime inductees, the experience is doubly meaningful — their consistent support shows unwavering trust in the Tartan community they are a part of each day.
The 2024 lifetime inductees to the Order represent a range of schools, departments and disciplines. Recently retired faculty member Don Carter (CFA 1967) and his wife, Bea (DC 1969) know that consistent support is key to keeping CMU’s mission moving forward.
“Many may prefer to give occasionally, but dependable donations help stabilize the work, allowing for long-term, mission-based programs and projects,” Bea says.
President Farnam Jahanian with faculty member Kristen Kurland
Don Carter (CFA 1967) and his wife, Bea (DC 1969), with the president
Fellow lifetime inductee Kristen Kurland, a CMU faculty member for more than 25 years, agrees that consistent support keeps the CMU community strong.
“I give to CMU because I believe in paying it forward and because I believe strongly in our educational mission and principles, and in supporting our faculty, staff, and students,” she says.
And Kristen sees the impact of that collective community of support each day, saying “I would encourage others to give consistently because even small gifts give students opportunities that they would not otherwise have.”
Of all our charitable giving interests, education is the priority. Education is foundational to improved outcomes in almost all other categories — health, environment, social, cultural and economic development. Carnegie Mellon — our alma mater — is at the top of our list.
Don Carter (CFA 1967)
That focus on educational opportunities is also what drives Don and Bea in their philanthropic efforts at CMU and beyond.
“Of all our charitable giving interests, education is the priority. Education is foundational to improved outcomes in almost all other categories — health, environment, social, cultural and economic development. Carnegie Mellon — our alma mater — is at the top of our list.”
Congratulations again to Don, Bea and Kristen and the rest of this year's faculty and staff lifetime inductees.