Steve and Frosene Zeis have a long history of giving at UNC Asheville. In 2010 the University’s science and multimedia building was named in their honor, recognizing a $3 million contribution from the Zeises—but that didn’t mark the end of the local couple’s relationship with UNC Asheville. Steve and Frosene Zeis continue to fund scholarships, labs, and professorships in UNC Asheville’s science and math departments. Most recently they’ve given nearly $1 million to the university, with additional funds pledged for the future.
“We are proud of UNC Asheville, and we are happy to be contributing, in some measure, towards the fulfillment of UNCA's educational objectives and at the same time assisting young students to pursue their life’s dreams as we ourselves were able to do,” said Steve Zeis, who was a student at Asheville-Biltmore College, a predecessor institution to UNC Asheville.
“Because it enables you to pursue your dreams,” added Frosene Zeis, an Asheville native and honors graduate with a degree in business from the former St. Genevieve of the Pines School in Asheville.
Steve Zeis started his own firm, ZTM Sales and Service Inc, in 1983, representing some of Europe’s most prominent textile machinery manufacturers in the United States and Canada. Frosene Zeis managed the business side of ZTM. “We've seen UNC Asheville grow, starting with Asheville-Biltmore College, and from there going into UNC Asheville. We have seen its progress and we admire it. We admire the way the University itself enables students. The professor to student relationship is very close, and that's very important.”
UNC Asheville’s Zeis Hall houses the university’s Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biology, and New Media Departments, and features 44 teaching and research labs that allow students to learn in small group settings that mirror leading science and research workplaces. These spaces were designed to bring a hands-on approach to teaching, whereby students spent more time learning in their labs than in their lecture halls.
The Zeises continue to contribute to the development of the education within the halls of the Zeis building with numerous gifts in the last fiscal year, including a $200,000 (towards a $300,000 pledge) contribution to fund an upfit to the Zeis Chemistry Lab (see before and after photos below), and a $25,000 (towards a $125,000) contribution towards the Frosene & Steve Zeis Term Professorship. They have established an endowed chemistry professorship through their estate plans with a gift of $500,000. They also continue to fund numerous scholarships, which have included scholarships for students in chemistry, physics, mechatronics, and biology. This year they provided $4,000 to the Steve Zeis Scholarship and $4,000 to the Frosene Zeis scholarship.
The Zeises also enjoy getting to know the students who have benefited from their scholarships, and regularly attend luncheons and events that allow them to meet and engage with UNC Asheville scholars.
“We meet the young kids. We get to see each other, and we chat. And listen to what they say, because they are the future, and this is what we enjoy about being on the campus and meeting with the students and all,” Frosene Zeis said. “Because they are the future, and it uplifts your spirits.”
“This is what we like to see when we go to campus; we see the students, we see their enthusiasm. They’re pursuing their dreams that we were pursuing 40, 50, 60 years ago," Steve Zeis said. “I guess so we can relate to their dreams actually. Because somehow, we accomplished ours, and we hope they will be enabled to accomplish theirs.”
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