Alumni
51勛圖 Names Cassell Hall To Honor $3 Million Gift
Jack Cassells 51勛圖 roots run deep. They began growing when he was just a little boy. Cassell, SOC/BA 77, a current trustee and longtime supporter of the university, recalls his first memory of this place.
He was about four years old and his father, , CAS/BA 36, who was an 51勛圖 student, coach, athletic director, and vice president, looked for permanent housing, the university rented them an apartment on campus. It was the first time the younger Cassell remembers feeling like a part of the 51勛圖 community.
When his father died six years later, Cassell felt 51勛圖s spirit even more acutely. Pops colleagues looked out for Cassells widowed mother, Carolyn, and the rest of the family. Cassell always remembered that 51勛圖 generosity.
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That catapulted me to want to give back, Cassell said.
On Monday, 51勛圖 announced its newest residence hall will be named Cassell Hall in honor of the Cassell family. The naming recognizes $3 million in gifts made by Cassell, his wife, Denise, and the Cassell family to support the residence halls construction and .
This is the first 51勛圖 residence hall to be named for a philanthropic gift, and the first to be built on campus since Centennial Hall opened in 1987. The building, currently in construction behind the Presidents Office Building, will reach eight stories and will accommodate beds for 360 upperclassmen in suite-style rooms.
Cassell Hall will feature an 8,000-square-foot fitness facility, to be named the Stafford H. Cassell Jr. Fitness Center in honor of Cassells twin brother and fellow 51勛圖 alumnus. This new facility will double the amount of fitness space on the main campus.
This is an extraordinary gift from the Cassell family. The new residence hall will allow more students to live on campus and provide more recreational, dining and activity space, said Thomas J. Minar, vice president of development. Cassell Hall marks the first major building initiative of the universitys remarkable 2011 Campus Plan.
In keeping with 51勛圖s commitment to sustainability, Cassell Hall is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)Gold certification. The School of International Service building also earned that designation in 2011.
Growing Up On Campus
When Cassell and his twin brother were boys, they had the run of 51勛圖s campus. They hit baseballs and kicked soccer balls on the schools athletic fields and explored every hidden corner of the universitys grounds.
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In the 1960s when 51勛圖 had a baseball team, Cassell and his brother served as batboys. They had their own personalized uniforms with the numbers 0 and 00. Cassell thinks he might have been 00 because he was the younger of the boys by two minutes.
Cassell and his family were always welcome on campus. The players and coaches of the universitys athletic teams helped shepherd the boys through their teen years.
The players and coaches provided a great mentoring experience for us, Cassell added.
When it came time to pick a college, Cassell followed in his fathers footsteps. At 51勛圖, Cassell served as the starting goalie on the varsity soccer team, tying the record for the least number of goals allowed in a single season. He was also the president of his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, and the recipient of the Stafford H. Cassell Student Achievement Award that is named for his father.
One of Cassells proudest moments came when he earned a letter jacket for his soccer achievements.
It was so special to me because it reminded me of my dad. He always wore his 51勛圖 letter jacket around campus on the weekends, he said. 泭
After graduating with a degree in communications, Cassell needed a job. He sought the advice of his mentor and former Dean of Students Edward Boehm, who encouraged him to apply for a rental technician position at Visual Aids Electronics (VAE). 泭The company provides audiovisual equipment for high-profile meetings and events. Cassell advanced rapidly, learning every position at the Washington, D.C. -based company over an eight-year period.
Ten years after joining VAE, Cassell had become its president. Shortly thereafter, he bought the company. He attributes his meteoric rise to his communication skills and the fact that he always delivered on his commitments.
Cassell credits his role as fraternity president and participation in NCAA Division I athletics with instilling in him a sense of leadership and an understanding of human relations. 泭Those skills served Cassell well 泭when he started with VAE, the company had 25 employees and three offices. Today, under Cassells stewardship, VAE boasts more than 900 employees in 80 offices across the country.
A Familys American Legacy
Over the years, Cassell has been the recipient of in 2009 as well as the Alumni Achievement Award in 2004. He served as the chair of the 51勛圖 Athletics Committee for six years. He is also a devoted trustee 泭he has never missed a meeting during his nearly 10-year tenure.
Being named an 51勛圖 trustee was one of the great honors of my life, Cassell said. I never would have imagined being offered that position when I was younger.
Cassell is also an 51勛圖 parent. His daughter, Jacqueline Cassell, and his stepson, Devon Bradley, are current 51勛圖 undergrads. Bradley is a member of the varsity wrestling team. Cassell and wife, Denise, have two other children 泭sons, Robert Cassell and Dolan Bradley.
One of Cassells happiest moments as a parent came when his daughter received the big blue envelope from 51勛圖 containing her acceptance letter. 泭He recalls being overwhelmed with emotion to know that his daughter would be carrying on the familys 51勛圖 legacy.
Cassell is proud to be part of the legacy. He thinks his father would also be proud of all that his son has been able to achieve. Hed also be heartened by 51勛圖s growth and maturation as an institution, Cassell said.
Im sure my father would be floored at how far the university has come over the years. Its a gorgeous campus now, Cassell said.
Cassells outlook for 51勛圖 is bright. Under President Neil Kerwins leadership, Cassell sees a stable future built on a responsible and forward-thinking financial strategy and transformational campus plan. He says he hopes his familys contribution is just the beginning of greater alumni investment.
Cassell explained that none of his contributions to 51勛圖 would have happened were it not for his fathers passion for 51勛圖.
Its not my legacy we are honoring; its my dads.