UNIVERSITY MARKS END TO FUND DRIVE; BACKERS APPLAUD EFFORT THAT RAISED OVER $28.5 MILLION

Southeast Missouri State University's first major capital campaign concluded with a balloon-filled dinner celebration at the Show Me Center Thursday night.

The band played the university's fight song as pastel colored balloons rained down on more than 500 donors, university officials and campaign volunteers who turned out for what was billed as a "victory celebration."

Lighted balloons behind the head table registered the total amount of money raised in the five-year "New Vision of Excellence" capital campaign: $28,568,394.

"What a number!" exclaimed Cape Girardeau banker James Limbaugh, who served as general campaign chairman for the capital drive.

The amount raised easily exceeded the $25 million goal, which campaign organizers had set.

Limbaugh said the gifts and pledges come at a time when Southeast and higher education in general are "retooling" and in need of funding.

He described the capital campaign as "self help" for the university.

"When the need is communicated effectively and clearly and honestly, with no smoke and mirrors, and no hidden agenda, this place is an easy sell," said Limbaugh.

"There are lots of people that have caused this thing to happen," he said.

Those in attendance cheered more than an end to a successful capital campaign. They celebrated Southeast President Kala Stroup's 55th birthday. Stroup was presented a cake as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday."

"The heartbeat of Southeast Missouri State University is you," Stroup told the crowd. "You have made working at the university a pure joy."

She added, "You made that wonderful `Vision of Excellence' a reality."

Stroup said those who gave to the capital campaign included alumni, friends of the university, parents, small businesses and large corporations.

More than 13,000 people gave to the capital campaign, including Stroup. The university received a $25,000 gift from Stroup and her husband, Joe.

Despite budget woes at Southeast, faculty and staff contributed $565,000 to the capital campaign, well above the $125,000 goal set, said Judy Wilferth, chairman of the board of directors of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. The foundation spearheaded the capital drive.

Most of the money raised is earmarked for specific university projects and programs. But nearly $4 million is in undesignated funds, Wilferth said.

Thomas Wood, who is past chairman of the foundation's board of directors and now lives in North Carolina, returned to Southeast for the celebration.

Wood said he felt "joy, excitement, pride and thanksgiving" over the campaign's successful conclusion.

The private phase of the campaign began in 1987 and raised $12 million. The rest was raised in the public campaign, which was launched on Sept. 29, 1990.

Wood said foundation officials considered delaying the start of the public phase of the capital campaign when then-university president Bill Stacy resigned in the summer of 1989 to head a new state university in California.

But, Wood said, they decided to proceed, in part, due to the advice of Robert Foster.

Foster, a driving force behind the foundation, served as the university's president while a search was conducted for a permanent successor to Stacy. He currently is executive director of the foundation.

"Without his (Foster's) encouragement, we might have decided to wait," said Wood.

"You are proud and you have proven that," Wood told the crowd.

While celebrating the campaign's success, Limbaugh stressed that the university will continue to have funding needs. "There will be no less need for funds in the future," said Limbaugh.