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Gonyo shares Titan pride with gift to launch Titan Alumni Foundation

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh economics graduate Gerald “Jerry” Gonyo ’64, is paying it forward by supporting the new Titan Alumni Foundation.

Gonyo has donated $50,000 in an effort to raise matching funds to move UW Oshkosh forward. He hopes his gift will inspire fellow grads and University friends to support UW Oshkosh and provide today’s students with quality education and a great start to their future.

“I’m putting my money to work today to impact tomorrow,” he said.

UW Oshkosh is where it all began for Gonyo, of Bloomington, Indiana. Through his involvement with the Economics Club and the Delta Kappa fraternity, he met lifelong friends and learned to be a leader.

As a proud 1964 UW Oshkosh graduate, Gonyo combined his experience working in a hardware store in Oshkosh with a solid education in business and international economics to launch his nearly 40-year career in retail merchandising and international imports.

Decades later, Gonyo is still devoted to sharing his Titan pride. When his career took him to Arizona in 2005, he spearheaded development of a strong and engaged UW Oshkosh alumni chapter in the state and initiated several alumni events, including an annual Brewers spring training outing that continues to this day. Now, he’s hoping to start another alumni chapter in his new home state of Indiana.

Along with dedicating countless hours of his time and energy to his alma mater, Gonyo is committed to helping the next generation of UW Oshkosh students thrive in their chosen professions.

“In my career, I put together my experience with education and hard work,” he said. “Now, I’m giving back to the school that gave me my start. I want to see it through.”

Gonyo said he made the donation to help jump-start the new Titan Alumni Foundation, which launched in May 2018. The new Foundation Board is led by Scott Barr ’86, president; Dan Thome ’85, vice president; Mike Hochholzer ’90, secretary; and Kevin Jaklin ’85 and ‘95 MBA, treasurer.

Additional board members include Jim Hoffman ’72, Brenda Karls-Skalecki ’93 and ‘98 MBA, Mary Novak-Jandrey ’74, Kevin O’Brien ’81, and John Strous ’72 and ‘82 MS. Ex officio members include UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt and Bob Roberts, chief operating officer.

To share your Titan pride, ensure the success of future UW Oshkosh students and double your impact thanks to Gonyo’s match, please make your tax-deductible gift today.

To contact the Titan Alumni Foundation, visit uwosh.edu/go/taf, call (920) 424-1295 or send an email to TitanAlumniFoundation@uwosh.edu.