Bonnie Pierce Puntenney (’40) and her daughter, Peggy Puntenney Withers (’66) have pledged their generous support for the creation of a Student Development Center in the new facility of the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences. The Puntenney and Withers Student Development Center, which will be part of the Institute for Children, Youth and Families (ICYF), will enable the School to serve more students and agencies and will help greatly in the School’s efforts to straighten families and communities throughout Arizona and the nation. Currently, the ICYF’s service learning program provides leadership-development experiences for approximately 100 students per year; these students in turn contribute 18,000 hours of community service annually through public, private or foundation related educational or family service agencies.

Bonnie Pierce Puntenney is a native Arizonan. Her father, Clyde Pierce, founded the Rancho Vista Bonita Guest Ranch, which flourished in Paradise Valley in the 1950’s and 60’s. Bonnie began her career at the University of Arizona in 1936, pledging the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and immediately becoming active in the campus community. She joined the Women’s Athletic Association and also the Women’s Student Association. In 1939 she was elected secretary of the student body, and in 1940 served on the Reunion Alumni College Council. In that same year she received a B.S. degree in Textiles. Her late husband, William H. Puntenney, also attended the University of Arizona, and served time as Chairman of the UA Alumni Board of Directors. A successful businessman, he distinguished himself during World War II, serving in the Army infantry and earning two Silver and four Bronze Stars for bravery. Together, the Puntenneys raised three children, Jim, Tim and Peggy, all of whom graduated from the UA.

Peggy Puntenney Withers, also an Arizona native, graduated in 1966 with a degree in Food, Human Nutrition and Diet. She was active in the campus community and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. In 1965 she was chosen as the U of A recipient of the Ralston Purina Award. This enabled her to attend leadership workshops in St. Louis MO and a camp in Michigan, along with fifty other land grant college representatives, three from Canada and one from Puerto Rico. In 1967 Peggy completed her dietetic internship with the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York, receiving the award for outstanding dietetic intern. Returning to Arizona, she worked as a dietitian at Pima County Hospital and practiced as a consultant for nursing homes in the area. Peggy married Robert E. Withers over 26 years ago and four of their five children graduated from the U of A. For twelve years she served on the Phoenix UA Alumni Board. In 1972, Peggy was awarded the A. Louis Slonaker Award from the Alumni Association. She raised extra funds for the scholarships for Arizona High School seniors coming to the U of A. Now retired, Peggy continues to spend a great deal of time as a community volunteer. In making this pledge, Peggy Puntenney Withers said, “The U of A was an intimate part of my life for four years and I’ve always felt I received an excellent education there. My mother has always loved the U of A – she is red and blue through and through. In fact, we are a family of Wildcats, since almost all of us graduated from Arizona. Consequently, it seems the most natural thing in the world to thank our Alma Mater in this way and to contribute to the success of future generations.”