Larry and Nancy Peckham, who have lent their name to the new math and science building, first developed an attachment to Nazareth College through the arts. “Neither of us were alumni,” says Larry Peckham, “but we have been ticket holders at the Nazareth College Arts Center for many years and have sponsored performances annually. We just want to help.”

That impulse found a special focus in 2012 as the Peckhams helped realize the most significant campus addition in more than 30 years. Throughout his professional life, Larry Peckham has been convinced that the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) hold the key to the future. He drew upon his own strong background in those fields to develop LPA Software, Inc., which he founded in Rochester and which has gone on to revolutionize supply chain planning. At this point in U.S. history, when the poor performance of students in math and science threatens to undermine our status as a leader among nations, the need for investment in the future is greater than ever. That need—and the realization that any one person can make an enormous difference—was a motivating factor in the Peckhams’ decision to donate the naming gift to bring this state-of-the-art, 21st-century facility to fruition.

Peckham Hall will have a significant impact on Nazareth students and the greater Rochester community for generations to come. “Larry and Nancy Peckham have looked into the future and seen how this building will help Nazareth expand the number of students interested in pursuing careers in math, science, technology, health care, and teaching,” Nazareth president Daan Braveman says. “They also understand that the facility will have a far-reaching impact on the Rochester community as many of our students remain in the region as health care professionals, teachers, and professionals in STEM-related fields.”

For their part, the Peckhams cannot imagine a more deserving recipient than Nazareth College. “There are so many bright, enthusiastic people on this campus who also happen to possess really first-rate skills,” says Larry Peckham. “These are the people who will provide for Rochester in the future, and we need to support them.”