Kennesaw State University (KSU) is heading into the final stretch of its $75 million Comprehensive Capital Campaign. At least $65 million has been committed to improve academic programs and fund new projects since KSU kicked off the five-year campaign in October 2007.
“Despite the extraordinarily weak economy, KSU has enjoyed strong fundraising gains these past three years,” said KSU Foundation Chairman Norman Radow. “These impressive results are both a testament to the hard work of our development team and the excellent product our university provides the greater community.”
Trustee and campaign co-chair Bob Prillaman attributes much of the campaign’s success to KSU President Dan Papp’s leadership, the KSU Foundation’s efforts and the growth of the student body. “To raise $65 million in the worst recession in recent history defines how KSU is perceived,” Prillaman said.
KSU has witnessed an intensely active year with the completion of several new facilities, including the $56 million Prillaman Hall, which houses the WellStar College of Health and Human Services and an 8,300-seat soccer stadium. KSU also was awarded several grants including a $2.85 million grant from the National Science Foundation to recruit and train science and math teachers for Cobb, Paulding, Fulton, Gwinnett and Atlanta public schools. More than $1.6 million in grants and scholarships from the Goizueta Foundation will help develop strategies aimed at improving the retention and graduation rates of Hispanic and Latino students.
The College of the Arts received a private gift from entertainment attorney Joel Katz to fund the new Music and Entertainment Business Certificate Program. Longtime KSU benefactor Bernard Zuckerman in August committed $2 million to complete Phase II of the Art Museum. Zuckerman challenged the university to raise an additional $1 million for the project by May 2011. To date, more than $200,000 has been committed toward the matching pledge.
Several new endowed scholarships as well as support from individual donors have also contributed to making this a historic year in fundraising for KSU.
For those interested in donating to KSU, the following Naming Opportunities are available:
$7 million Naming of Kennesaw Hall
Naming of the Convocation Center
$5 million Naming of a college:
College of the Arts
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
University College
$5 million Naming of the Early Learning Center
$3 million Naming of the School of Music
$1.5 million Naming of the Art Museum
$1 million Naming of endowed chairs
$100,000 Naming of laboratories and auditoriums
$75,000 Naming of streets
$50,000 Naming of selected classrooms
$20,000 Naming of endowed scholarships
