Anderson Cooper Energizes PSU Supporters Who Donate $1.2 Million

Portland, October 22nd, 2013. CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper regaled supporters with stories about  his adventures covering world news. PSU President Wim Wiewel also honored entrepreneur Bill Stoller as an outstanding alumnus. Portland State University President Wim Wiewel thanked a record 1,800 guests at the university’s 14^th annual Simon Benson Awards Dinner. (photo credit, Phototainment)

Bill Stoller MBA ’79 received the Simon Benson Award for Alumni Achievement. Rick MBA ’91 and Erika Miller received the Simon Benson Award for Philanthropy. The Convention Center dinner raised a record $1.2 million for student scholarships and other initiatives.

From Portland State:

Portland State University is Oregon’s largest and most diverse public university located in the heart of one of America’s most progressive cities.

It offers more than 60 undergraduate and 40 graduate programs in fine and performing arts, liberal arts and sciences, business administration, education, urban and public affairs, social work, engineering and computer science. PSU offers more than 226 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

The 50-acre downtown campus—with the motto “Let Knowledge Serve the City”—places students in a vibrant center of culture, business and technology. This allows students to participate in internships and community-based projects in these fields as well as education, social services, and government.

Portland State’s award-winning University Studies curriculum provides small class sizes and peer mentoring for all first-year students and culminates in Senior Capstones, which take students out of the classroom and into the field, where they utilize their knowledge and skills to develop community projects.

The University has taken aggressive steps to enhance the student experience and campus life, with new student housing and a comprehensive recreation complex and remodeled science and performing arts facilities. Portland State also has bolstered academic and career advising and orientation programs and created new programs to support students. Sustainability—initiatives that balance environmental, economic and social concerns—is incorporated throughout the curriculum and across the campus.