From the winter 2008 issue of UConn Momentum
A major gift from the estate of Martha Hinkel, a retired staff member and patron of the arts, will leave a lasting tribute at the School of Fine Arts and the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.
Hinkel, who died in 2006 at age 91, joined UConn in 1962 following her marriage to Cecil Hinkel, former head of the theater department, who himself significantly influenced the arts at UConn. Hinkel was dean of women and later assistant dean for residential student affairs until her retirement in 1977. She also was a dedicated member of the University community, serving in the University of Connecticut League, the Women’s Club of Storrs and the American Association of University Women.
The estate gift includes approximately $200,000 to establish the Cecil E. and Martha C. Hinkel Scholarship and Fellowship at the School of Fine Arts.
“I really feel that Martha was a part of the school,” says David Woods, dean of the School of Fine Arts.
The Hinkel gift will have a lasting effect for students and faculty by enhancing academics and theater performances, Woods explains. The fund will support undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and student productions. The fund also will help the school bring in various experts for lectures, performances and collaboration with UConn faculty.
“Anything that comes into our school that enhances programs helps us grow as a school. I think her gift will make a significant difference for the school, and in particular the dramatic arts department,” says Woods.
What is special about Hinkel’s gift, adds Woods, is that it will enable improvements that will help the school continue to recruit the “very best students.”
In addition to the school, Hinkel was deeply involved with the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.
“Martha Hinkel, until the last few years of her life, bought tickets to every single Jorgensen event,” says Rodney Rock, director of the center. “She came to everything she possibly could. We were very fortunate to have Martha.”
A bequest of more than $115,000 established the Martha C. Hinkel Jorgensen Auditorium Fund. Rock notes that the gift will be used to carry on Hinkel’s legacy of a strong commitment to the arts. The fund will directly support cultural programming.
“We’re going to use the gift as seed money to start a programming endowment for Jorgensen,” says Rock. “It seems to me she would approve of us using the money in this way to support programming into the future.”
To support the School of Fine Arts or the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, please contact Paul Goldberg at 860.486.0394 or by e-mail.
