Hutton’s legacy lauded during dedication

Blue and gold bluebird pins adorned the lapels of members of the IU community in remembrance of the late Edward L. Hutton.

His favorite bird was the Eastern Bluebird, said Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson. The Hutton Honors College handed out bluebird pins to honor Hutton’s legacy at IU because, just as the bird returns with the spring, new students experience new beginnings at IU, she said.

The dedication of the new Hutton Honors College building celebrated the Honors College’s new home while remembering the loss of the college’s biggest friends and donors. Edward Hutton was scheduled to take part in the ceremony, but his death March 2 at age 89 changed the tone of the event.

“Hutton made and continues to make an impression at IU with his time and his spirit,” President Michael McRobbie said during the opening of the ceremony.

He described Hutton’s beginnings at IU, graduating with a degree in business in 1940 and earning his master’s degree a year later. He said Hutton served in the U.S. Army rebuilding Germany after World War II, an experience that fostered a lifelong appreciation for international education.

McRobbie said more than 2,500 students have used $4 million from the International Experiences Program to travel abroad since the program’s founding in 2003.

“The Hutton Honors College is truly an international endeavor, and that would truly please Hutton,” McRobbie said.

Hanson said the ceremony was a bittersweet moment for the IU community. During the ceremony, she recognized members of Hutton’s family in the audience.

“Mr. Hutton had a deep and abiding love for the University,” Hanson said. “It gave him so much that he felt compelled to give back.”

Hutton also provided the funds for the new Honors College building because he saw the need for a bigger, more welcoming space.

Matthew Auer, dean of the Hutton Honors College, said Hutton’s passion helped finish the building project in 14 months. He described Hutton as warm, genuine, witty, civic-oriented and student-oriented.

The architect of the project who presented her firm’s design said Hutton wanted to create a building in the Collegiate Gothic style that would blend in with the historic Indiana limestone buildings of the IU campus.

“The new Hutton Honors College building embodies the can-do spirit of Mr. Hutton,” Auer said.

McRobbie said the new Hutton Honors College building serves more than 4,000 honors students, providing them with a place to study and learn from each other.

After the ceremony, a parade of bagpipers from Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums led the audience across the street to the new Hutton Honors College building for a reception and tours.

Freshman Ian Kaelble, a member of the Hutton Honors College, said he recently visited the new building for a discussion supper and thought it was spectacular. He said he thought the ceremony was well-done and inspiring.

“I knew Hutton had a big impact at IU, but I learned a lot about him personally,” Kaelble said.

Junior Natsuki Atagi, who spoke during the ceremony, expressed her thanks to Hutton and the Honors College for providing a welcoming environment for honors students on campus.

“The new building is an embodiment of the Honors College’s experiences and opportunities,” Atagi said.