WSU gets $1M from Dumkes

A $1 million gift to Weber State University's health sciences program will mark the 50th anniversary of a long-time school supporter.

The Dr. Ezekial R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation announced the gift — the largest ever given by the foundation — to be used for scholarships and new construction.

"To recognize the foundation's 50th anniversary, we wanted to make our most significant gift," said Claire Ryberg, a member of the Dumke Foundation Board and granddaughter of the Dumkes. She said they are proud to support WSU, as it "continues to serve the same community that my grandparents dedicated their lives to serving."

Since its founding in 1958, the Dumke Foundation has reflected the Dumkes' lifelong commitment to healing and the betterment of their fellow man. During the past 50 years, the foundation has given millions of dollars to numerous organizations and charities in northern Utah, including WSU, the Egyptian Theater Foundation, the Treehouse Children's Museum, the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College and McKay-Dee Hospital, among others.

Half of the $1 million gift will be used to establish an endowment that will fund 10, annual $2,000 scholarships in health sciences at WSU.

The remaining $500,000 will help fund the construction of the Hurst Lifelong Learning Center at WSU's Ogden campus. The space is intended to expand capacity of the existing John A. and Telitha E. Lindquist Alumni Center.

"The creation of this endowment will allow future generations of health care providers to carry on Dr. Dumke's legacy of compassion and exceptional patient care," said Marie Kotter, chairwoman of the department of health sciences at WSU. "We are so grateful to the Dumke Foundation for this incredible investment in our students and their education."

Dr. Dumke was a prominent physician in the Ogden area who pioneered the use of spinal anesthesia.

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