Giving Back

Brenda Algire '77 remembers her alma mater with an estate gift

Wright State University holds a special place in Brenda Algire's heart.

"Wright State was the good old days," said Ms. Algire, a 1977 graduate. "My days at Wright State were days of good times, good memories. They were days that I'd like to repeat, but I can't."

Along with a lifetime of memories, Wright State gave Ms. Algire the opportunity to learn in an environment that met her needs. "It was basically the only school with complete wheelchair accessibility at the time," explained Ms. Algire, who has cerebral palsy.

After arriving on campus, Ms. Algire began studying accounting but quickly realized that it wasn't the right fit for her. "I didn't think that I wanted to push pencil and paper every day," said Ms. Algire, who changed her major to rehabilitation services.

Before graduation, Ms. Algire landed a job at a school in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, where she worked with individuals who have developmental disabilities. In June 1978, she began working at the Mount Vernon Developmental Center in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She remained there until she had to take a disability retirement in 1998.

"That has bothered me on and off ever since. I miss working," she said. "I got a lot of personal self-fulfillment from the job. The clients liked me, and I liked them."

As she looks toward the future, Ms. Algire knows it's important to plan for what lies ahead and the legacy she wants to leave behind. In her will, she has set aside a portion of her estate to her alma mater, so future Wright State students will benefit from the same opportunities that she had.

"This is a way of giving back to a place that was very important to me," Ms. Algire explained. "I'm glad I got a college education. Without a college education, I probably wouldn't have been employed."

She encourages other Wright State graduates to think about how they can make a difference to current and future generations of students. "Reach inside yourself," she said, "and follow your heart as much as you can."