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University of Wyoming

Helga Otto and Erivan K. Haub
 

In Fall 2004, Helga and Erivan Haub, bestowed a gift of $3 million upon the University of Wyoming’s (UW) School of Environment and Natural Resources.  Their endowed gift qualified for a matching fund established by the Wyoming State Legislature, increasing its value to $6 million.  In recognition of the gift, the school was renamed the Helga Otto Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.

       Erivan and Helga Haub with former UW President, Phil Dubois (2004).

Originally from Germany, the Haubs own a ranch in Sublette County, Wyoming, where they have summered for the past 21 years.  They have been members of the William D. Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources Board since 1994.  Their family-owned company, the Tengelmann Group, provides textile and non-food discounting, do-it-yourself home-improvement supplies, drugstores, and food retailing in fifteen countries.   While the Tengelmann Group employs about 184,000 people and sees annual sales of over $26 billion, the Haubs have made sustainability a top priority in their businesses.  Helga and Erivan would like to see their gift be used to, "further environmental education, create stronger awareness of the pressing issues due to the vast natural resources in Wyoming, and to develop guidelines to help local and state government in their decision making."

Early this fall the Haub School will conduct a one-day workshop to identify areas of need and the best places to use the funds from the endowment.  Attendees of the workshop will include faculty, staff, and students involved with the Haub School; ENR faculty advisory committee members; representatives from UW administration; Haub family members; and others.  A tentative list of ideas has already been drafted that will serve as a starting place for discussion about uses for the endowment, and new ideas generated at the workshop will be welcomed as well.

Earnings from the fund might be used for development in several areas including courses and curriculum; student and faculty enrichment; organization, marketing, and recruitment; and others.  Much of the endowment will likely focus on student support within the Haub School including scholarship awards, international programs, field experiences, and graduate stipends.  Other areas of use might include bringing visiting professionals to campus to participate in teaching activities; public outreach and education programs; purchase of equipment, supplies, and minor facility maintenance; and faculty support for teaching, research, outreach, and development.

Many individuals in the UW community will feel the benefits of the Haubs' contribution over the coming years.  UW President Phil Dubois expressed his thanks by saying, "We are indebted to the Haubs not only for the generosity of this gift, but also for their continuing involvement with the university's environment and natural resources programs during the past decade."

Ruckelshaus Institute Board Chairman and former Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan also complimented the Haubs' generosity. "They have demonstrated not only a longstanding commitment to a sustainable environment but also a commitment to Wyoming's sustainable natural resource economy. The Haubs have now followed their personal commitment of time with a gift which will impact the lives of Wyoming students for years to come."

Thanks to UWyo Magazine for contributing to this article.