The newest building on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus has been named for a couple who made the largest alumni contribution in the university’s history.
The Gale and Paul Kirby Library and Student Resource Center (SRC) is a new, central hub for student and community services and honors the couple’s generosity to UW-Stevens Point. A grand opening of the building will be held this fall.
The Plover couple’s gift was unrestricted, meaning funds will be used where the university sees the most need. “We want our support to reach the largest number of students possible,” said Paul.
“Paul and Gale have been amazing supporters of UW-Stevens Point,” said Interim Chancellor Pratima Gandhi. “The Kirbys embody the transformative power of education, community and partnership.”
Paul began classes at UW-Stevens Point during a challenging time in his life. He had lost his father at age 19, and relied on Social Security, veteran’s benefits and several jobs to make ends meet. It was the encouragement of his professors and residence hall director that helped him gain confidence and live to his potential, he said.
“I feel like when I look at the course of my life, I attribute a lot of the good that has happened to me to my UWSP experience,” Paul said.
After graduation, Paul launched a career in retail finance, working with notable firms such as Saks Incorporated, Best Buy Co., Inc., and Bloomin’ Brands. Paul developed a reputation for mentoring strong teams – a skill he credits to being nurtured at UW-Stevens Point. Gale’s career in financial services, at firms including Strong Capital Management and Nuveen Investments, was built on a foundation of financial skills instilled by her parents growing up in Stevens Point, her associate degree in accounting and decades of exposure to industry business practices.
“We saved steadily and lived well within our means,” Paul said. “Our ability to leave this gift comes from a lifetime of careful investing and a desire to see UWSP thrive, because when the university thrives, so does the community,” said Gale. “We tend to like to work behind the scenes, but we hope this gift will be publicized in a way that makes people stop and consider what they’re doing with their own resources,” Paul said. “We hope it inspires others to act locally, responsibly and generously.”