Photos: High honor for philanthropists

In honor of total giving to Tulane University of at least $1 million, 31 individuals and organizations were inducted into the Paul Tulane Society at a ceremony on March 15 in the Freeman Auditorium at the Woldenberg Art Center.

The honorees, each of whom received a medal with a decorative ribbon in the Tulane blue and green colors, have supported projects across the university and its campuses, including significant gifts to expand the university's community involvement efforts. Additional details and a list of the honorees are available on the Wavemakers website.

Tulane President Scott Cowen prepares to give the Paul Tulane Society medal to Alden “Doc” Laborde, who has given to Tulane for more than four decades in support of endowed chairs in banking and finance and Judeo-Christian studies. A former member of the Board of Tulane, he also has donated to the parent's fund and athletics fund.

Art historian Penny Morrill, a 1969 alumna of Newcomb College, accepts her medal with a smile. The Latin American Library at Tulane is home to more than 1,000 designs by the “Father of Mexican Silver,” William Spratling, and his contemporaries, thanks to her generosity. She and her husband, 1969 alumnus Jim Morrill, also established an endowed fund for the library.

“Your commitment to higher education has been essential to our success,” Cowen tells the new members of the Paul Tulane Society at the ceremony.

This framed medal honors the late Tulane alumnus Irwin Frankel, who left a bequest to the School of Science and Engineering enabling the addition of two floors of space for future growth at the new Donna and Paul Flower Hall for Research and Innovation. Accepting the medal was Carol Levy, Frankel's niece.

Membership in the society is one of the highest honors Tulane bestows upon its distinguished friends and alumni.