On Tuesday, February 14, 2017, the Kean community will celebrate Valentine's Day by honoring Maxine Lane, Kean University alumna and long-time contributor, at Kean's Sweetheart tribute event.

The event will be held at the North Avenue Academic Building (NAAB) Auditorium and will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Lane passed away last year at the age of 90, in Phoenix, Ariz. Lane and her late husband, Jack, have donated funds to the university, thus resulting in the Center for Academic Success being renamed the Maxine and Jack Lane CAS in 2009.

A Kean News press release provided more information about Lane, who graduated at age 51 with a bachelor's degree in social work in 1978, and also received an honorary degree in 2014.

The alumna left her retirement fund to Kean University, which amounted to nearly $1.7 million. This donation will contribute to the Maxine Lane Excellence Fund, which will support the university's mission to provide a world-class education for its students.

Having already donated $3.1 million to her alma mater, both with her husband and as an individual donor, Lane's recent donations makes her the institution's largest benefactor.

An additional multi-million dollar donation can also be expected, as Lane left Kean University as the sole beneficiary of her estate.

In addition to the donations made to the university, the Maxine and Jack Lane Endowed and Annual Education Scholarship is awarded to juniors and seniors who are pursuing careers in the health care or education field with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Since 2008, when it was first awarded, 48 students have received the scholarship.

For the Kean's Sweetheart tribute event on Valentine's Day, university President Dawood Farahi welcomes the Kean community to honor Lane. Following the event will be a complimentary hot chocolate bar with toppings included.

For more insight on Lane, take a look at the Honorary Degree Recipient Maxine Lane's Graduate Commencement speech from 2014 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXUNWB8WBbw.