Campaign is providing great opportunities, challenges

Justin Brant of Biloxi and Jennifer Craft of Ocean Springs were highly recruited out of high school. Not because of their prowess on the athletic field, but because of their performance in the classroom. They could have gone to college just about anywhere they wanted. Justin was headed to Georgia Tech, and Jennifer to Virginia. But, in the end, they both chose to study engineering at Mississippi State. Each will tell you that it was because of the quality of the engineering education they would receive and because they were awarded $5,000 scholarships from the Henry Endowment Fund for Engineering set up by alumni Hunter and James Henry.

Derrick Bell of Rolling Fork also needed financial assistance to realize his dream of becoming an architect. Taking advantage of the prestigious Fred Carl Sr. Scholarship funded by alumnus Fred Carl Jr., Derrick, another top-notch high school scholar, is enrolled in Mississippi State's School of Architecture. The scholarship pays his fees and tuition for the five-year program.

Both the Henry and Carl scholarship funds were established as a result of The Campaign for Mississippi State.

It is hard to imagine that nearly four years have passed since Mississippi State University embarked on its first major gifts campaign--a journey that will solidify Mississippi State University's position as one of the educational leaders of the Southeast well into the next century.

On April 23, 1993, we announced that more than $43 million had been committed toward the initial goal of $78 million. A year and a half later, in October 1994, that goal was surpassed. A spectacular halftime fireworks show in Scott Field announced to Mississippi State supporters that $81 million in gifts and pledges had been received, and that a new goal of $110 million had been set for the campaign.

Today, the campaign total stands at slightly more than $96 million, with some 15 months to go until its official completion on June 30, 1997. This is an incredible tribute to the support of Mississippi State alumni and friends; however, it also represents a tremendous challenge as we enter the final months of this effort.

We set the standard for higher education fund-raising in the state of Mississippi when we reached the first goal of $78 million. Reaching $110 million would demonstrate to the people of this state and this region the solid, unwavering support this university has from alumni, friends, and corporation and foundation donors.

Just as the campaign is helping Justin, Jennifer, and Derrick earn their college degrees, it also is supporting thousands of other Mississippi State students in their efforts to learn and grow, and it is assisting our faculty in the classroom and in their research and service efforts.

Campaign gifts designated for buildings and facilities are reshaping the face of campus. In January, the athletic department moved into the modern new John H. Bryan Sr. Athletic Administration Building, and ground soon will be broken on one of the most anticipated projects in the university's history--the Joe Frank Sanderson (student recreation) Center. Plans also are under way for a Chemical Engineering Building. Other buildings, including Magruder Hall and Perry Cafeteria, will undergo renovation and expansion because of the campaign.

Gifts for educational enhancement projects are being used to build and equip state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms such as the Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Laboratories in engineering, the Leo Seal Electronic Classroom in business and industry, and the William L. Giles Electronic Classroom and the James H. Carr Reading Room, both in Mitchell Memorial Library. Architecture supporters contributed the funds to furnish and provide equipment for the old Elks Club building in downtown Jackson to serve as headquarters for the School of Architecture's fifth-year program.

Donations to the university libraries from parents and others are purchasing books and materials for the recently renovated and expanded Mitchell Memorial Library. And, corporations and foundations are providing funds and in-kind gifts to support several projects, such as Chevron U.S.A.'s pledge to support the Extension Service's Community Pride Program as well as priority needs of four engineering departments, the Storer Foundation's contributions to purchase innovative equipment for the Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, Aurora Systems' gift of animation software for the art department's computer graphics curriculum, and the Phil Hardin Foundation's support of the Chair in International Security and Strategic Studies, among many others.

Since the campaign began, the university's endowments have grown from $51 million in 1992 to nearly $80 million today. Endowed funds, which support scholarships, educational programs, faculty chairs, and other needs, provide a permanent source of income to Mississippi State.

The overwhelming support for the campaign has indeed been gratifying. We are on track to reach our $110 million goal. But much remains to be done. Raising $14 million in 15 months will be a tremendous challenge. Since the outset of the campaign, we've urged our supporters to go above and beyond their normal contributions to Mississippi State. Many have responded by doubling and tripling their gifts. Others have responded with major gifts of a lifetime. Some have included the university in their wills, or have taken advantage of deferred giving programs such as the charitable gift annuity. We will be successful in this campaign effort only if our supporters continue to find meaningful and innovative ways to give to Mississippi State.

There will be many opportunities to assist Mississippi State in the coming months. When your opportunity comes, I hope you will consider all that Mississippi State is doing to educate thousands of young men and women, to develop new technologies that will make tomorrow's world a safer and better place to live, and to provide the public service that is helping Mississippi and the region grow and prosper.

If you already have joined the growing number of campaign contributors, your support is appreciated; however, please consider another gift to this important endeavor. If you have not pledged your support to the campaign, I ask you to consider making a gift.

There is something remarkable happening on our Drill Field. It is a permanent and growing reminder of the campaign spirit. Every time I am back on campus I stop to see the progress of the Walk of Honor. There, in the center of the Drill Field, are thousands of bricks with the names of the Mississippi State alumni and friends--or the names of their loved ones--who have contributed $500 or more to The Campaign for Mississippi State. It will forever serve as a reminder of those who have chosen to support the campaign at this level. Next time you visit campus, take a stroll across the Walk of Honor and see the names. And, make sure your brick joins theirs as we extend the walk the length of the Drill Field.