The late Si and Bertha New Bergsma

Changing lives by: establishing an excellence fund through a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) and a charitable gift annuity (CGA) for the College of Agriculture that allowed for the expansion of Call Hall.

K-State connection: Si Bergsma graduated with a degree in agricultural economics in 1929 and earned a master’s degree in general agriculture in 1935.

A couple’s ritual: When Si and Bertha New Bergsma visited the K-State campus, the couple from Ottawa always made two stops: First, Weber Hall to see the photo of Si and the 1929 Livestock Judging Team that hangs on the wall there. Second, they always stopped at Call Hall Dairy Bar for ice cream.

Why they gave: Before Si’s and Bertha’s deaths in 1990 and 2002 respectively, the Bergsmas decided to honor the College of Agriculture by naming K-State as the beneficiary in their estate plans and establishing a dean’s excellence fund, which allows deans to meet the most pressing needs of their colleges. Part of their estate gift helped fund the renovation of Call Hall Dairy Bar, increasing the size of the shop by 620 square feet.

Impact: Call Hall Dairy Bar is part of the learning experience at K-State. Profits from the dairy bar fund the maintenance of the equipment in the dairy processing plant next door. In the plant, students get hands-on experience learning the processes and machinery used in dairy processing; skills that lead to internships and job placement. The plant is also used by faculty for dairy-related research and product development.

What people are saying: “Having known them personally, I think they would have been happy that their money was spent on the renovation,” said Jack Riley, professor and former head of the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. “They were just great, community-minded people.”