Ļć½¶Šć University is mourning the loss of LaDonna Meinders, a beloved alumna, musician, author and selfless benefactor. LaDonna passed away in Ļć½¶Šć on Tuesday morning at the age of 88.
LaDonna, along with her husband Herman, became synonymous with philanthropy at Ļć½¶Šć, in Ļć½¶Šć and beyond. Their names adorn iconic facilities such as Ļć½¶Šćās Civic Center Music Hall and Myriad Botanical Gardens.
The coupleās generosity also transformed the university landscape, with the Meinders School of Business and Kramer School of Nursing standing as tangible testaments to their commitment. The coupleās financial contributions to Ļć½¶Šć total more than $50 million, making them the universityās most prolific benefactors.
āLaDonnaās support, dedication and love of humanity have made a huge impact on the lives of thousands of Ļć½¶Šć students, alumni and supporters,ā Ļć½¶Šć President Kenneth Evans said. āHer generosity will be felt for generations to come.ā
LaDonnaās connection to Ļć½¶Šć began when she was an 18-year-old incoming freshman in 1954 from the small town of Loyal, Oklahoma, in Kingfisher County. Her family farmed wheat and were regular church-goers.
The budding musician would soon help redefine the university's landscape. LaDonna represented the university and the state at the Miss America competition, with the titles of 1954 Keshena Beauty, and 1956 Oklahoma Maid of Cotton, Ļć½¶Šć Basketball Queen and Miss Oklahoma already in hand. She was the first student from Ļć½¶Šć to win the state title, launching the universityās proud tradition of representation at the national pageant.
After graduating in 1958 with a bachelorās degree in music, she moved to Kingfisher, Oklahoma, with her first husband and began to raise a family.
LaDonnaās dedication to education led her back to Ļć½¶Šć. In 1983 she took the job of assistant director of graduate admissions. While serving in that role, she took classes in her off hours to earn an MBA in 1986. In 1996, the university honored her with an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters.
Although their time as students intersected in the 1950s, LaDonna and Herman didnāt meet until her time as an Ļć½¶Šć employee. They first met at a fundraising breakfast, then learned more about each other while LaDonna wrote a profile story on Herman for the universityās alumni magazine. They later married on the campus in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel and became inseparable partners in their philanthropic endeavors. Earlier this year, the couple celebrated their 38th anniversary.
Their first large-scale campus project was finished in 1994, when nursing students moved from their previous home at St. Anthony Hospital downtown to the Kramer School of Nursing, named after parents Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Kramer and their daughters, Dr. Ruth Seideman and LaDonna. The nursing school grew again in 2011 with the addition of a three-story building next to the original facility.
āSeeing her name on our buildings is a reminder of LaDonnaās constant care and compassion for people,ā Kramer School of Nursing Dean Emeritus Lois Salmeron said. āHer support extended far beyond donations. Her sister, being a nurse, influenced her interest in nursing. LaDonna was always supportive and involved in the activities of the nursing school. She regularly gave us the encouragement that we needed to do our best to help others.ā
Another significant campus project was the Meinders School of Business. LaDonna and Herman participated in the groundbreaking ceremony in 2002 and the building was opened in less than two years. Its entire cost ā more than $18 million ā was covered by the Meinders.
Beyond their financial support, the Meinders were deeply involved in Ļć½¶Šć life, mentoring students and inspiring faculty. For several years, they were known to invite students to a lunch or dinner to make meaningful, personal connections. They were regular visitors to campus to meet, greet and cheer on their alma mater.
Ļć½¶Šć is honoring LaDonnaās memory by celebrating her life and the enduring partnership she shared with her husband. The prayers of the entire Ļć½¶Šć community are with Herman and the Meinders and Kramer families during this time.
Services are set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on the Ļć½¶Šć campus.
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