A unique naming opportunity has been established in support of the new state-of-the-art, “green” science building. Individuals and families can purchase an element paver on the periodic table of elements, which will be constructed as part of a courtyard patio at the north entrance of the building.

The gift amount funding the science building courtyard patio element paver is $5,000 and may be payable over three years. For more information, go to http://development.susqu.edu/html/campus_campaign.html.

Here are five folks who have already taken advantage of the opportunity. Read about how they chose their element:

Name: Brad and Jennifer Rojek ’98 Barton
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Element: Oxygen
Why we chose this element:
[Jennifer] “I brought Brad to SU while we were dating to see if he would love it as much as I did. (That was one of the requirements of our relationship.) One of those first visits was the day three scholarships were awarded during the football game. He was very touched by that act and the generosity and gentility of the place. When I informed him of the new element program, he jumped on the chance to celebrate our commitment to SU and to each other. One element in particular jumped out: oxygen.

[Brad] “First, we were planning our wedding for June 2008, and oxygen’s atomic number is 8. Second, the symbol ‘O’ is symbolic of the wedding band. And last, it recognizes my feeling that I never truly breathed until I started my life with Jennifer.”

[Jennifer] “I was blown away by the considerable thought he gave to the project and his willingness to become part of SU. In the days leading up to our wedding, he could give me no greater gift than to celebrate the place I love so much.”

Name: Mary Muolo ’03
Hometown: Selinsgrove, Pa.
Element: Potassium
Why I chose this element: “My husband, Bob, daughter, Alie, and son, Robert, are all runners who often get muscle cramps after a hard workout. Since cramps are caused by a lack of potassium, I thought they needed the element.”

Name: Nick ’99 and Erica Weaver ’00 Stephenson
Hometown: Liverpool, Pa.
Element: Krypton
Why we chose this element:
[Erica] “When I first heard about the opportunity, I absolutely knew that I was going to buy one of the elements. It was just such a creative, cool way to give back to the university.

“After we decided we were going to participate, Nick and I sat down to look at the periodic table of elements to see which one we wanted. We really wanted to find one that somehow meant something to us. We were toying with several ideas when I saw krypton sitting there and just started giggling. We are such geeks when it comes to superheroes, we didn’t even consider anything else after that. We had to buy the one thing that kills Superman.”

Posted August 21st, 2009.