University Foundation raises $49.2M

About five years ago, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation launched its Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Success comprehensive campaign with a goal to raise $40 million to support scholarships and academic programs.

Bill Holland, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation, said the foundation surpassed that goal, raising $49.2 million in gifts and pledges.

During the campaign, which ended June 30, more than 200 new endowed scholarships were established, and 11 scholarships were increased significantly, Holland said, adding the funds help students throughout campus.

"That's the beauty of this," he said. "It didn't go to one thing. This is all going out to support students."

The $40 million goal was the most ambitious fundraising effort by the foundation since its inception in 1983. About 8 percent of the funding effort also went toward renovations at Academic Hall, Magill Hall and Catapult Create Labs.

The foundation currently provides $1.7 million in endowed scholarship earnings to students, Holland said, and leaders at Southeast and the foundation have a passion for providing access to higher education.

"We work very hard to maintain an affordable tuition and fee structure, and we wanted to provide as many opportunities to even reduce that further through this scholarship," he said. "Because, still, we have roughly 25 to 30 percent of each graduating class as a first-generation college student, meaning the first in their family to go to college."

During a homecoming event last October, the foundation announced it had raised $45 million through the campaign.

"The buzz in the room -- I still get goose bumps thinking about it," Holland said. "People were standing and cheering. ... I thought we had pretty well tapped everything out."

But, at the end of June, Holland received a final report that $49.2 million had been raised.

"There was this moment of stunned silence," he recalled.

"And we are so grateful for the support of our alumni and friends. Our alumni base in this region reached out and supported this university in very special ways; in ways that truly are targeted toward student support. ... We're humbled by the outpouring of support for us, and we know that we have to be good stewards of this money, and we will certainly do that."

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639

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