Christendom College is an institution where faith and reason thrive. A Christendom education is one that is “grounded in natural and revealed truth,” as the college’s mission statement asserts. As an institution that takes zero federal funding, Christendom’s faithful Catholic education is only made possible through the support of generous benefactors. One such benefactor, Dr. Ray Henkel, is helping to expand the college’s new natural science major through the Legacy Challenge.
The Legacy Challenge multiplies the effect of estate gifts by matching 10% of the value of the future gift with an immediate gift to Christendom student financial aid. Henkel has included Christendom in his estate to support the natural science program while, through the Legacy Challenge, enabling five additional students to attend Christendom College today.
Originally from New York City, Henkel has had a lifelong fascination with God’s Creation. He was introduced to physics in high school and then majored in the field in college. Henkel would go on to earn a Ph.D. in physics as well. In his professional career, Henkel worked as a geophysicist for various oil companies for 25 years. Throughout his career and into retirement, Henkel has maintained an interest in the sciences, especially in physics and geology. An avid outdoorsman and hunter, Henkel now lives in Colorado.
This story comes from the latest issue of Instaurare Magazine, the official magazine of Christendom College. Read more from Instaurare here!
Henkel, a lifelong scientist and faithful Catholic, wanted to support a college that was consistently and thoroughly Catholic. Seeing the secularization of higher education in recent decades, Henkel determined to find a college that “really believes in religious education.”
Henkel found out about Christendom when trying to find a college that preserves religious values while still providing an excellent education. Christendom’s zero federal funding policy made it stand out from other colleges.
When asked about what makes Christendom unique, Henkel says, “Christendom really popped out to me because the college takes no money from the government.” When Henkel found out Christendom was adding the natural science major, Christendom became his philanthropic priority.
Henkel sees Christendom as a place where the study of both natural and revealed truth thrive. Recently, the college expanded its curriculum with the addition of a natural science major, providing students with a comprehensive education in the core areas of physical science while maintaining the college’s Catholic liberal arts core curriculum. Henkel has assisted Christendom in establishing the Albertus Magnus Endowment, named after the patron saint of the natural sciences, St. Albert the Great, to fund the natural science program. By marking his estate gift for the Albertus Magnus Endowment, Henkel’s personal passion for God’s creation aligns with the college’s need.
St. Albert the Great by Karl Ballenberger.
Henkel was ultimately inspired to include Christendom in his estate when he found out about the college’s Legacy Challenge. By matching a future estate gift with a gift today, the impact of Henkel’s estate commitment is enhanced. “The match opportunity motivated me to significantly increase what I can do for Christendom now,” Henkel says. Since Christendom is a relatively new college compared to many older institutions, funding an endowment through an estate gift ensures that Christendom can endure for years to come.
“Through the study of natural science, we develop a greater appreciation for God’s universe, and I want to preserve this for future generations.”
When asked what he would tell others who have either included Christendom in their estate plans or are considering it, Henkel wants to encourage them to make Christendom part of their legacy.
“I want to make sure that Christendom is a part of my legacy and endures after I pass away. I made this gift so that Christendom can endure for years to come.”
Read more about Christendom College’s Legacy Challenge by visiting giving.christendom.edu/legacy.
Written by Jacob Stevens.
Read more from Instaurare Magazine here.