Central College will be establishing the Thomas J. and Charlene P. Gaard Endowed Residency in the Liberal Arts thanks to a significant gift they recently received. The signature residency is intended to benefit Central College students, faculty, staff and the greater Pella community. Central President Mark Putnam says that Tom has been a close friend to Central College for many years and has done many things to expand the opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate. Gaard, a 1961 graduate of Central College, lives in Clive and is a retired senior vice president of Principal Financial Group. The first signature residency is expected to occur in fall of 2014 with a second one anticipated to follow in the academic spring semester.