Dennis & Debra Ujiiye

Reaping from the past to sow for the future

Dennis ’70 and Debra (Murata) Ujiiye ’73 met at the University of Idaho in l969. They both came from farming families – Dennis’s family farmed in Nampa, Idaho, while Deb’s parents farmed near Ontario, Oregon, following time spent in a World War II internment camp – and their parents encouraged them to pursue college degrees. Today, Dennis farms on the Murata family’s land, while Deb is a retired educator, after a career in special education. In 2014, they committed a portion of their estate to U of I to benefit the College of Education and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “Individuals are most effective when empowered, and education is empowering,” Dennis said. “By providing others with educational opportunities that have served both of us so well, we hopefully will play a small part in the beginning of other great enterprises.”

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Enter one or more of the following funds as the designation for your gift:

• Education Renovation Building Project Support Fund - Phase 2
• College of Education Excellence Fund
• Terry Armstrong Classroom for Science Education
• 4-H Excellence Fund