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That sentiment was echoed by
many throughout the dedication
ceremonies. Ruth Blank, ED'37,
attended with her son, Robert Blank,
L'65, and grandson, Matt Blank, C'03,
to see the room her son named after
her and her late husband, Samuel A.
Blank, W'29, L'32. "I just had to see
my classroom,” Mrs. Blank said. "It's
a lot different than when I had classes
back in Bennett Hall!”
"I had seen just the shell of it
before,” said Jay Baker, W'56, who
attended with his wife, Patty, to
dedicate the Baker Forum, which
is the focal point for student life in
Huntsman Hall. "Now, it's mind
boggling!”
Jon Burnham, W'59, like many
others, took the dedication ceremony
as an opportunity to meet with
the scholarship students he has sponsored
as well. While exchanging
thoughts about the building with
Laura Kournihan, W'06, and Chris
Murphy, W'03, Burnham said, "I
get a great kick out of seeing you kids
come through here. My involvement
with Penn is one of the great joys I
have in my life.”
Perhaps that sense of joy was best
expressed by Jon Huntsman himself
during the weekend's proceedings.
Huntsman, whose $40-million contribution
was the lead gift in the
campaign to create the building, was
joined throughout the festivities by
his wife Karen and several generations
of his own family; he was also celebrated
at a special ceremony attended
by his personal friend Vice President
Dick Cheney.
At Friday afternoon's public dedication,
also attended by President
Judith Rodin, Provost Robert Barchi,
and Wharton's Dean Patrick Harker,
Huntsman touched the audience with
his message about what Wharton has
meant to him in his personal, spiritual,
family, and business success. In his
dedicatory statement, he challenged
and inspired his fellow alumni with
a quote that he keeps over his desk:
"No exercise is better for the human
heart than reaching down and lifting
another up.”
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