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Chancellor Emeritus Gerald L. Bepko and Dean Emeritus Norman Lefstein of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law have been honored with the IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy award for their leadership, expertise, and longtime support of the law school.

Spirit of Philanthropy awards recognize individuals, corporations, and foundations that have supported and contributed to university programs and departments through their gifts and voluntary service.

Chancellor Bepko joined the law school’s faculty in 1972 before becoming dean in 1981. Appointed as Chancellor of IUPUI in 1986, he headed the movement to unify the campus and led the first six years of the campus’s fundraising campaign that raised over $1 billion. He then served as Interim President of IU in 2002-2003. Chancellor Bepko was the inaugural director of the Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence headquartered at IUPUI where he teaches courses on leadership and law. Chancellor Bepko also continues to teach courses in commercial law at the law school and serves on the boards of countless organizations.

Dean Lefstein served as dean of the law school for 14 years and led the fundraising efforts for the school’s current building, Lawrence W. Inlow Hall. During his tenure as dean, he significantly increased the number of programs the law school offers, as well as enhanced the school’s financial resources for faculty research and student scholarships. Dean Lefstein has been highly involved in furthering legal education and is recognized nationally for his efforts and research involving legal services for the poor in criminal defense cases.

The annual IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy luncheon and ceremony, which took place on April 10, 2012, was hosted by Chancellor Charles R. Bantz at the IUPUI Campus Center. The event was attended by more than 300 people including IUPUI students, administrators, deans, directors, faculty, staff, honorees and community members. Angela Cain, Community Affairs Director at WTHR Channel 13 served as the emcee. The event is sponsored by IUPUI, the Indiana University Foundation, and The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.