Things were going smoothly and according to the script. Dean Michael Griswold had presented all the College of Sciences’ annual achievement awards to the appropriate recipients and was about to thank everyone for coming to the Sciences Recognition Event, an occasion he truly enjoys.
Then it all slipped off course.
John Nilson, director of the School of Molecular Biosciences, stepped forward and took the microphone from Griswold. Nilson announced he was making a special presentation to a great teacher, researcher and friend, Dean Griswold. Since the dean and Nilson are not just colleagues, but fishing buddies too, Griswold’s first thought was that he might walk away with a handsome new fly rod or a custom reel.
Instead, Nilson announced the creation and funding of the Michael D. Griswold Fellowship in Reproductive Biology. Although Griswold didn’t see them right away, two of his daughters, Rise and Jodi, and two of his grandchildren stepped into the Alumni Centre Great Hall, smiling and proud, from the hallway where they had been waiting. They were part of the surprise.
Daughter Rise McGill (WSU communications ’89) was part of the plot from the beginning.
“I was inspired to encourage the creation of this fellowship in Dad’s honor by comments from his graduate students. They said he was not just their mentor and adviser but also a great source of inspiration. Many felt he had changed their lives.
“He had been at WSU for so many years, it was time to do something. Creating a fellowship is so appropriate because helping students is where his heart is.”
The announcement was the culmination of a yearlong campaign that resulted in gifts to the fellowship from Griswold’s former and current graduate students, lunch pals, noon basketball players, fishing and hunting buddies, faculty colleagues, staff and family. The endowment received lead gifts from former Dean of Sciences Robert Nilan and his wife Winona, from chemistry Professor Emeritus Don Matteson and his wife Marianna, retired chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, and from Nilson and Alice Karl, Griswold’s wife.
Upon reflection, Griswold decided a fellowship was an even better gift than a new fishing pole.
“There is really nothing that anyone could have done for me that I would have appreciated more,” he said.
“As dean, I can make most things happen for the college, if I feel strongly enough about them. But not this. A fellowship in my name that continues to give in perpetuity is a very special gift.”
The fellowship has already reached endowment level and is in line for the state match.
