Monday, March 02, 2009
Sustaining the personal touch:
David and Sarah Huber
 The person-to-person nature of higher education at the University of Southern Indiana was the quality that struck J. David and Sarah K. Huber when they first got to know the University. In the ensuing years, they have helped sustain and expand the personal touch for which USI is known.The Hubers, longtime residents of Cannelton, Indiana, boarded the fast track to learning about USI in 1991 when he was appointed to the Board of Trustees. He served from 1991-95 and again from 2000-06, chairing the board from 2003-05. They now divide their time between homes in Cannelton and Evansville. “Our early impressions of USI were like the later ones,” David Huber said. “We always have been excited about the way USI is developing and the concern it has for students. During its growth, the University has continued to maintain personal contact between students and faculty and between students and administrators.” Connie Weinzapfel, director of Historic New Harmony, said the Hubers are the kind of board members every organization needs. Sarah is a member and past chair of the USI/New Harmony Foundation Board. David also has served on that board as a representative of the USI trustees. “Both understate the value of what they’ve done for the University,” Weinzapfel said of the couple. “They provide that quiet, steady support that all organizations need. They are always here to volunteer, even driving to New Harmony from Cannelton for an evening program. That sums up how dedicated they are.” The Hubers also are enthusiastic volunteers on the USI campus. David often has been among administrators, faculty, and board members who help students move into residence halls and apartments. “It’s a good example of what this University does that families don’t get anywhere else,” they said. “Parents are impressed with the support.” The Hubers applaud the way USI responds to community needs and provides programs that reach out to students in elementary and secondary schools, connecting Southwest Indiana with University resources. Applied research, internships, and advisory boards link companies and business professionals throughout the area with faculty and students. Among the programs for young students are High School Accounting Day, the Pott Foundation Tri-state Science and Engineering Day, and a growing number of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiatives. The Hubers’ interests span academics, the arts, and athletics. They are longtime season ticket holders for basketball and members of the Varsity Club. David grew up in Cannelton, where his family owned and operated a funeral home. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University. In 1962, he was elected a Perry Circuit Court judge, becoming the youngest individual ever elected to that post. When he clinched the primary, he was in his last year of law school. David served as a judge until 1970 and then practiced law in Tell City, Indiana, until his retirement in 2002. A native of Evansville, Sarah graduated from Bosse High School and earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Evansville and a master’s degree in social work at the University of Chicago. She worked at Evansville State Hospital and the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville and also was a consultant for the Lincoln Hills Development Corporation, a multi-county agency. She has served on the board of many community organizations in Perry County. She has been active in efforts that support the development of housing for senior citizens with low income and has served on the development committee of Habitat for Humanity. The Hubers believe deeply in helping young people get a good education, particularly those who have excelled in high school. They have watched with pride as USI has become a university of choice for students from all over Indiana and beyond. In 2001, the couple established a charitable remainder annuity trust, one of several types of planned gifts that friends may make to benefit the University through the USI Foundation. The Hubers’ gift will fund the J. David and Sarah K. Huber Endowed Presidential Scholarship. Since 1988, Presidential Scholarships have brought some of the state’s top high school scholars to USI. The trust provides the Hubers a lifetime income and ensures that outstanding Indiana high school graduates in the years to come will choose USI. David is a member of the USI Foundation Board of Directors. He also is secretary-treasurer for the Schergens Foundation, which provides a number of scholarships each year to benefit USI students from Perry County. He was inducted in 2008 into the President’s Circle, which recognizes those whose personal and volunteer efforts, advice, and expertise have been consistently present in shaping the University. The President’s Circle now includes 63 members. Betty R. Vawter News & Information Services 812/480-1873 or bvawter@usi.edu |
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