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Dean John Valenza, DDS, at the June 8 unveiling of the School of Dentistry's new donor wall. Photo by Dwight Andrews.
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The dedication ceremony for The University of Texas School of Dentistry’s new building drew hundreds of guests, whose excited conversations, laughter and applause mixed with a capella music of the Harbor Light singers and dignitaries’ speeches.
But after the ribbon-cutting, many guests lingered in the lobby for another special ceremony – the unveiling of the donor wall. A plush brown curtain covered the wall as Dean John A. Valenza, DDS, acknowledged the moment.
“Each gift represents so much more than money,” he said. “These gifts are about the hope that wonderful people won’t be forgotten; that life will be easier for financially struggling students; that researchers won’t miss a breakthrough for lack of funds; and that students and patients will find what they need inside this wonderful building. This is a wall of hope, of generosity, and the best of human nature.”
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Carrin Katz, wife of Jerry Katz, DDS ’68, of Austin finds familiar names on the wall. Photo by Dwight Andrews.
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The display of gray metallic name plates has a backdrop of granite harvested from the old Dental Branch Building. Special lighting in front of the display was designed to enhance the “3-D” effect and create a sense of movement. The wall was designed by a UTHealth Creative Services team that included Senior Graphic Designer Lauren Laman, daughter of Assistant Professor Stephen Laman, DDS, a 1986 graduate of UTSD.
Five levels of giving are denoted by the size of the plaques: $10,000; $25,000; $100,000; $500,000 and $1 million and up. Additional spaces are still available, and donations made this summer can be acknowledged at the Alumni Roundup and Generations Continuing Education Conference set for Sept. 21-22 at the Cooley Conference Center. For more information, contact John.T.Greer@uth.tmc.edu, or 713-486-4380.
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