Churbuck, Cabby put power of their names behind UIU fund-raising initiatives

FAYETTE, Iowa (October 6, 2014) – Two local alumni who dedicated much of their professional lives to Upper Iowa University (UIU) are continuing to use the power of their names to bolster new fund-raising initiatives to benefit UIU.

Dr. Lew Churbuck, Class of 1967, of Fayette, who passed away in spring 2014, taught biology for 37 years at Upper Iowa. His initiatives led to advances in the science department, and he established the popular conservation management major. He also served UIU as director of admissions, international student advisor, director of campus operations, division chair, and chair of the faculty senate. UIU bestowed an honorary doctorate to Churbuck in 2005. It is estimated that Churbuck taught more than 10,000 UIU students. His estate agreed to loan his name to the UIU School of Science and Mathematics Churbuck Dean’s Fund, named for Churbuck and his wife Milly.

Braulic “Cabby” Caballero, Class of 1956, also of Fayette, retired from Upper Iowa in 1995 as vice president of student services. He began working at UIU in 1956 as an admissions counselor, eventually becoming director of admissions. For a time he worked in the public relations department and the registrar’s office, was named dean of students in 1966, and then promoted to vice president. When he was named to the list of Top 10 UIU alumni during the University’s 150th anniversary celebration, he was praised not only for his work with students but for his ongoing presence and visible support for the entire university. In 2003, he received the UIU Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the University. He has agreed to append his name to the Office of Student Development “Cabby” Dean’s Fund.

The Churbuck and Cabby funds are two of five dean’s funds established at UIU to allow alumni to make donations that specifically support their major, sustain academic excellence in their School, and strengthen student services. Other funds are the Andres School of Education Dean’s Fund, School of Business Dean’s Fund, and School of Liberal Arts Dean’s Fund.

The dean’s funds have been established to help purchase new equipment and technology to maintain a high-quality educational experience for students, to defray costs associated with faculty professional development and to help fund student travel, leadership training, career development and civic engagement.

More information is available at uiu.edu/alumni.