Chancellor Tom George (left) presents the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Medal for Philanthropy to Emerson Chief Executive Officer and Chairman David Farr, who accepted the award on behalf of the corporation.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis honored a longtime friend of the university this week, awarding its 2015 E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Medal for Philanthropy to Emerson.

Announced at UMSL’s Founders Dinner on Sept. 24, the medal annually honors an individual or organization for generous support that has touched the lives of UMSL students, the university and the greater St. Louis area in exceptional ways.

“All of us at Emerson are extremely proud to receive the Des and Mary Ann Lee Medal,” said the Fortune 500 company’s chairman and CEO, David Farr. “We know that the University of Missouri–St. Louis does not extend this award lightly.”

Emerson, headquartered in nearby Ferguson, Mo., and founded in St. Louis 125 years ago, has contributed a total of $5.9 million to UMSL over the years, said Martin Leifeld, vice chancellor of University Advancement.

“As our north [St. Louis] County neighbor, Emerson has not only watched the growth of our campus but also encouraged that growth,” Leifeld said. “The company’s passion for students has led to its leadership in the Opportunity Scholars Program and, more recently, its founding of the Community Scholars Program, directed specifically at students in the north county region.”

Emerson’s support also has strengthened academic offerings and provided assistance for various capital construction projects, from the Emerson Endowed Professorship in Technology and Learning to the library addition that now houses the Mercantile Library.

“Emerson has found that the University of Missouri–St. Louis is a perfect partner to effect change in the St. Louis region through exceptional educational programs that serve diverse populations,” Farr said. “Its students and graduates are the up-and-coming leaders of the St. Louis region…. We’ve found that investing in the University of Missouri–St. Louis is an investment toward the future of St. Louis – a positive future for St. Louis businesses and communities.”

The Lee Medal was created in 2006 to honor Des and Mary Ann Lee for their extraordinary philanthropic support and visionary leadership of the university over the years.