With the dedication of The McGraw School of Business at Olivet Nazarene University on October 4, 2017, the University marked the beginning of a new era in the multi-faceted business education experience it offers.
“Today we are naming the Olivet School of Business in honor of alumnus Mick McGraw,” said Dr. John C. Bowling, University president, to those gathered for the ceremony in the Weber Center atrium. “Mr. McGraw’s generous gift will significantly strengthen our growing business degree programs.
“We are also reaffirming our commitment that the School of Business, and all of our academic programs, actively integrate faith and learning, believing that all of life is sacred and to be used for God’s glory. It is our desire that Olivet business graduates will be men and women who use their professional training as an avenue to bring glory to God.”
The ceremony recognized McGraw’s generosity and career success. Both he and his wife, Lucy, were present for the day’s festivities. Also present were Dr. Glen Rewerts, dean of The McGraw School of Business; Dr. David Roland, chair of the board of trustees; Dr. Carol Summers, vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Brian Allen, vice president for institutional advancement; and a large crowd of students, board members, corporate partners, alumni, faculty and staff.
“I’m very proud of all Olivet has accomplished since I graduated in 1972,” McGraw said during the ceremony. “I’m also proud of what Olivet has not changed. There has been no mission drift at Olivet. The most important things have not changed.”
McGraw is president and CEO of Eastbrook Homes, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Olivet in 1972. He has a long record of financial support for the University and has recently made a significant gift to Olivet as it continues to expand.
Prior to joining Eastbrook Development Company in 1979, McGraw served as vice president of Union Bank & Trust and gave oversight to two of its subsidiaries from 1973 to 1978. He became president of Eastbrook Development Company and Eastbrook Homes in 1986.
McGraw and his leadership team built Eastbrook into one of the country’s largest privately-held home building companies. Eastbrook has built approximately 10,000 residential units and developed hundreds of communities throughout Michigan and beyond. To honor his work, the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame recently inducted him.
More than a successful businessman, McGraw is a churchman, a community leader, and a generous supporter of a variety of charities and Christian organizations. He represents the qualities celebrated by the Olivet community. His life is a reminder that success is not just about the bottom line, but also about service, faithfulness, generosity and achieving a higher purpose.
“As The McGraw School of Business, we will continue to transform our program to meet the needs of business and the Church,” said Dr. Glen Rewerts, dean of the School, as he addressed the group. “We promise we will only hire faculty who demonstrate a passion for students, Olivet’s mission and Christ.”
“Mr. McGraw, your gift challenges us to live up to the confidence you have placed in us,” said Elizabeth Jackson, a junior marketing major, in her remarks to the group.
Significant accomplishments of Olivet’s School of Business include:
• Professional certifications — More than 1,000 have received Microsoft® certifications since Olivet’s Certiport® testing center opened in 2012. Students also have the opportunity for seven other certifications with more being added each year.
• SAP certifications — Olivet is one of only 10 Illinois schools offering this benefit. SAP is the worldwide market leader in enterprise applications software.
• CPA exam pass rate — Olivet accounting students who sat for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam had the second highest pass rate among Illinois colleges and universities, according to Accounting.com. In addition, Olivet students had the highest average exam score among the top 10 Illinois institutions, including top-ranked Northwestern University, for the past three years.
• Intercollegiate competitions: Olivet’s Enactus presentation team ranked in the top 32 of the 457 presentation teams in the nation, based on the team’s performance at regional and national competitions during the 2016–2017 academic year. Olivet’s Student Society of Human Resource Management (SSHRM) presentation team came out on top with first place among 30 teams in the 2017 Division I Case Competition.
The McGraw School of Business is located in the business wing of Weber Center on the University’s main campus in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The School offers bachelor’s degrees in accounting; business administration (with concentrations in management, management information systems, industrial technology management, not-for-profit management, public administration, human resource management, operations management and healthcare management; business information systems; economics/finance; international business; and marketing. Olivet’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies offers the Master of Business Administration and Master of Organizational Leadership degrees. McGraw’s gift ensures the continued success of an already vibrant professional program.
To learn more about areas of study in business at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
