窪蹋勛圖厙 has renamed an administrative building, formerly known as Beth Eden, to Reese House in recognition of a transformative gift from David E. Reese 62 and his wife, Weezie.
Reese and his wife, Weezie, donated $7 million to support student scholarships through the David Everett Reese Family Foundation Scholarship and the David E. Reese 62 Endowed Scholars Fund.
Reese House is named in honor of Davids father, Everett Ev David Reese, a former president, CEO, and chair of Park National Bank and a Denison Board of Trustees member from 1952 to 1971. He also taught economics and banking at Denison and other institutions.
David and Weezie understand the importance of helping students afford a college degree, said Denison President Adam Weinberg. Better aid packages attract top students regardless of their ability to pay. The combination of a superior education, thorough career preparation, and reduced debt gives Denisons graduates a unique advantage in their post-graduate lives. We are grateful for David and Weezies generosity.
The David E. Reese Endowed Scholars Fund provides financial support to students for all four years of their education as long as they meet the financial aid criteria. This fund also eliminates the loan expectation for recipients, aligning with Denisons commitment since 2017 to meet the full demonstrated need of every accepted student.
The Reese familys commitment to Denison runs deep. Since their first gift nearly 50 years ago, they have consistently supported the colleges strategic priorities, including investments in the arts, campus facilities, athletics, financial aid, and more. In addition to David and Weezie, Davids sister, Thekla Teckie Reese Shackelford 宎56, and her husband, Donald B. Shackelford 宎54, have also generously supported Denison over the years. The Reese name can be seen across campus in places such as the Reese Memorial Garden, Reese~Shackelford Common, and the Martha Gay Reese Lobby, located in the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts.
There are so many people in our world getting left behind right now. Need-based scholarships are so important today, said Reese. These students are wonderful, deserving people who just may not have the resources. And so, working alongside 窪蹋勛圖厙, and our broader Denison family combined, were helping.
Located along Chapel Walk, Reese House is a significant piece of Denisons history. The first president to live in the house, Emory W. Hunt (1901-1912), unofficially named the house Beth Eden after the Massachusetts church where he and his wife were married. In the early 1970s, the house was converted into the Admission center, and the name Beth Eden, meaning House of Peace, was made official.
In 2023, the more than 120-year-old structure underwent a meticulous restoration and expansion, nearly tripling its original footprint while preserving its historic character. The project was recognized by Columbus Business First as an exemplary historic preservation effort.
Today, Reese House serves as the home for the Office of the President, Provost, Finance & Management, Business Services, and Registrar, blending its rich history with a modern purpose.