Saying Thank You Through Planned Giving

Estate gift boosts study of government procurement law, establishes professorship

Kathryn Megyeri, MA '69, MA '82, and Leslie Megyeri, BA '63, JD '68, MBA '80

Together, Les and Kathy Megyeri have five degrees from GW. After surviving a shocking automobile accident, they decided to focus on their estate plans, and it was natural for them to consider making a planned gift to their alma mater. The Megyeris have committed to two bequests: one to complete the endowment requirements to establish the Nash & Cibinic Professorship, and the other to establish the Megyeri Chair in Government Procurement Law.

Nash & Cibinic Professor of Government Procurement Law Steven L. Schooner spoke with the Megyeris about their planned gift.

Professor Schooner: First, on behalf of our students, our professors, and the Law School, let me say thank you. What compelled you to make these bequests to GW Law?

Megyeris: As we both approach 70 years of age, we especially appreciate the direction that GW Law is taking to establish itself as a nationally renowned and prominent law school. We want to remain part of the institution long after we pass away. Since we have no heirs, we have been planning for our old age with long-term health care insurance and a reservation at an assisted-living facility. GW Law becomes the beneficiary of our estate following our deaths. We believe our legacy to GW reflects our own unique circumstances and charitable objectives.

Professor Schooner: What motivated you to designate your planned gifts to the Government Procurement Law Program?

Megyeris: Les' first legal position resulted from a conversation with Government Contracts Professor John Cibinic, who took an enormous amount of pride in placing his students in law firms and government agencies citywide.

Nash & Cibinic Professor of Government Procurement Law and Co-Director of the Government Procurement Law Program Steven L. Schooner visits with Les and Kathy Megyeri.

Professor Schooner: How did GW Law come to play such a large role in your lives?

Megyeris: Les, a refugee to this country following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, sought financial aid from GW's then-treasurer, Maurice Heartfield, who helped make it financially possible for Les to attend GW as an undergraduate student in economics.

Professor Schooner: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?

Megyeris: We now have the peace of mind that should we, God forbid, not survive our next automobile accident or crash together in our airplane, our estate matters have been settled. The university will benefit from the fact that we met there and we were both able to make a comfortable life together from our GW educations. We have been truly blessed by the university and the Law School, and now it's our turn to say thank you through our planned giving.

Professor Schooner: Thank you for your tremendous, significant, and important support.

Alumni Classes Establish Scholarships

Interim Dean Gregory E. Maggs is flanked by Class of 2011 Class Gift team captains. (Left to right) Christopher Healey, Lesley Dickson, Shruti Joshi, Samhitha Muralidhar, Geoffrey Heaven, Anjuli Shukla, Chase Ruddy, Ali Fishbein, Ryan Aggergaard, Megan Zaidan, Alisa Yasin, Tiffany Lee, Hugham Chan, Niti Sheth, Class Gift Chair Joon Song, and Brittany Bisnott.

The graduating Law School Class of 2011 raised $21,786.44, matched by an anonymous donor, in support of the Class of 2011 Scholarship Endowment Fund. Led by 2011 Class Gift Chair Joon Song, the class exceeded both of its goals. Class participation was 62 percent, far above the goal of 50 percent, and the overall participation rate of those making five-year pledges was 36 percent, which surpassed the goal of 33 percent.

The Class of 2011 had two Barron Cup winners for highest participation rate. They were Section 12, with a 63 percent class gift participation rate, and the LLM Section, with 37 percent making five-year pledges. The Section 12 volunteer leaders were Brittany Bisnott, Jonathan Gaffney, Geoffrey Heaven, Alison Shurtleff, Adrian Snead, Joon Song, and Alisa Yasin. The LLM Section volunteer leaders were Dhurv Jain, Shruti Joshi, Ruchi Sadhir, Paola Santana, and Niti Sheth. Other 2011 Class Gift volunteers were:

Section 11: Ryan Aggergaard, Ekene Avery, Tiffany Lee, Chase Ruddy, Dylan Williams, and Megan Zaidan

Section 13: SBA President Theresa Bowman, Thad Cox, Christopher Healey, Kate Kountzman, Scott McLean, Christine Mundia, and Samhitha Muralidhar

Section 14: Ali Fishbein, Daniel Janow, Kelly Krystyniak, and Rushab Sanghvi

Section 21: Laura Berman, Megan Hamilton, Alex Haskell, SBA VP of Outreach Caroline Pham, Anjuli Shukla, Colin da Sliva Vint, and Lucas Hanback

Transfers: Hugham Chan, John Crimmins, and Lesley Dickson

Reunion Class Gift Awards

Congratulations to the winners of the Reunion Class Gift Awards for 2010. The Barron Cup, named for GW Professor and former Dean Jerome A. Barron, is awarded to the graduating class section with the highest participation in the class gift campaign. In 2010, Section 12 won with a 75 percent participation rate, led by Kaitlin Donley, Julia Jankowski, Jessica Katz, and Class Gift Chair Dvora Wilensky.

The Friedenthal Bowl, named for GW Law Professor and former Dean Jack H. Friedenthal, is awarded to the class that raises the most money in honor of its reunion. It was won in 2010 by the Class of 1975, which raised $689,205, led by Weston D. Burnett, JD '75, LLM '83, Thomas L. Mills, JD '75, William J. Mutryn II, JD '75, and Earle H. O'Donnell, JD '75

The Dean's Cup is awarded to the class with the highest overall participation rate in the reunion class gift campaign. In 2010 it was a tie between the Class of 1960 and the Class of 1965, which each achieved 39 percent participation in their respective class gift campaigns. The Class of 1960 raised $35,758, thanks to the efforts of the Hon. James Cacheris, JD '60; Dale Carlisle, JD '60; Melvin Garbow, JD '60; Aaron Levine, JD '60; the Hon. Bruce Mencher, BA '57, JD '60; and Ron Willoner, JD '60. The Class of 1965 raised $121,010, led by Gary Kindness, JD '65.

Two new cups will be introduced in 2011. The Lawrence Cup, named for former Dean Frederick M. Lawrence, will be awarded to the class with the largest percentage attendance at the reunion, and the Stockton Cup will honor the class in the Stockton Guard (those classes that graduated from GW Law 40 years ago or earlier) that raises the most money in its reunion year.

Your contribution to your Reunion Class Gift, and your attendance at Alumni Weekend Sept. 16-17, could lead
to your class winning an award. See you in September!

Spring Board Meetings

The GW Law Board of Advisors, C-LEAF Advisory Board, and Government Contracting Industry Advisory Board met in Washington, D.C., in April. Their meetings focused on changes within the legal profession and ways the Law School can respond. Employment for recent GW Law graduates and providing financial aid for current students remain top challenges for the Law School.

Advisory Boards Dinner

Members of GW Law's Board of Advisors, Government Contracting Industry Advisory Board, and Center for Law, Economics & Finance (C-LEAF) Advisory Board enjoyed a festive dinner at the Folger Shakespeare Library the evening before their board meetings in April. The Intellectual Property Board of Advisors had met in San Francisco earlier in March.