Simic receives award from governor

Curtis R. Simic, president of the IU Foundation, has been named a "Distinguished Hoosier" by Gov. Frank O'Bannon. The honor is one of the highest awards given by the state of Indiana to its citizens.\nThe citation commends Simic, an IU alumnus, for his "great service to the state of Indiana and its citizens" and "tireless work on behalf of Indiana University" during his 13 years as head of IU's official fund-raising agency.\nIn that time, gifts from the private sector increased from $37 million to more than $230.1 million in fiscal 2001, and the number of donors grew from nearly 63,000 to nearly 100,000. Since 1990, IU has consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the nation in total voluntary support from the private sector. It also has become one of the top 15 among public universities in the market value of its endowment.\nThe award was presented to Simic by James T. Morris, president of the IU board of trustees and Alan Gilman, vice chair of the IU Foundation board of directors.\nIU President Myles Brand credited Simic for his dedication to IU and with setting aggressive goals for the Foundation.\n"Curt has provided visionary leadership for the Foundation by building strong partnerships among those various constituents who care about the University and work toward its well being," Brand said in a statement. "He is energy, optimism and compassion in action, and IU is much stronger because of his devotion to it"