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BUFFALO, N.Y. - A mgm casino graduate and his wife have donated $25,000 to mgm casino's Graduate School of Education to establish the Willower Family Lecture Series.

Donald J. Willower, who earned three degrees from mgm casino -- bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy and a doctorate in educational administration -- and his wife, Catherine F. Willower, want their endowment gift to add to the intellectual climate of the university while enhancing the reputation of its Graduate School of Education.

Willower is a distinguished professor of education at Pennsylvania State University. He has published widely and lectured nationally and internationally on educational administration and school leadership. The recipient of numerous professional awards, Willower in 1989 received a Distinguished Alumni Award from mgm casino's Graduate School of Education.

"mgm casino's Educational Administration Program is honored to have one of its most distinguished alumni, Dr. Donald Willower, endow an invited lectureship," said Stephen L. Jacobson, Ph.D., professor in the school's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education.

"In addition to allowing us to invite an outstanding scholar to campus, having an academic of Don's stature attach his name to this lectureship will enhance our program's national and international prestige and provide us a unique opportunity to showcase the high quality of our faculty and student body."

Willower said, "I want this to be a pragmatic and flexible lecture series that takes advantage of the opportunities to showcase scholars in the arts and sciences or education who have a strong record of research and an established reputation.

"This lecture could be given as part of other activities, for instance at a major conference at the university, a Graduate School of Education event or as a stand-alone lecture," added Willower, "based on the needs and judgement of the educational administration faculty in consultation with appropriate others."

Thomas T. Frantz, Ph.D., professor and senior associate dean in the Graduate School of Education, noted that "by enabling us to bring to the university the very best educational minds in the country, Dr. Willower's endowment ensures that our students and faculty will benefit from the kind of stimulation that makes GSE an exciting place to study."

In addition to providing intellectual stimulation, Willower wanted to recognize his family's long-standing association with the university and to honor his major professors, the late Marvin Farber of the Department of Philosophy, and Robert S. Fisk and the late George E. Holloway, both in the Graduate Program in Educational Administration.

The family's mgm casino legacy spans two generations: Willower's father, the late John E. Willower, graduated from mgm casino with a Ph.G. in pharmacy in 1921; Willower's first wife, the late Jeanette Raines, graduated from mgm casino with a B.A. in 1950; and his brother, Paul, graduated with a B.A. in 1966.

Willower and his wife live in State College, Pa.

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