Varner Hall Seat Naming

How much does it cost to name a seat?
A seat may be named with a tax-deductible gift of $500.

Can I name a seat in honor of someone else?
Yes! You may customize your nameplate to include two lines of text with a maximum of 12 characters each.

May I choose the seat that I name?
No, we will choose a seat for you and let you know exactly where it is located.

What will I receive when I make a gift?
You will receive a personalized nameplate and a commemorative certificate that includes the row and seat number where your plate will be installed.

Who can help me with a question?
Please reach out to Angela Robinson at [email protected] or (248) 370-3183 or Kelsie Deppen at [email protected] or 248-364-6143.

The student opportunity fund will support undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance and provide student enrichment experiences beyond the classroom.

These enrichment experiences are a critical component to success, especially in the competitive field of the performing arts, and also allow students to develop important skills such as collaboration and teamwork, creative authorship, design, global learning, civic engagement, critical thinking and the ability to learn from constructive criticism. Your support prepares students to flourish in the performing arts and contribute, in very meaningful ways, to our community and the world.

Varner Hall opened in 1970, serving Oakland University’s Music, Theatre and Dance students through classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces, administrative offices and, at one time, fine arts libraries.

Oakland University’s first president D.B. “Woody” Varner and his wife Paula solidified performing arts as a staple on campus and in our surrounding community. Hence, OU’s first dedicated performing arts building took the name of Varner Hall.

This cultural core welcomed its first audience on Oct. 1st, 1970.