$74 million! SWT Centennial Campaign a rousing success
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — The first major fund-raising campaign in the history of Southwest Texas State University has concluded, and school officials report that the effort surpassed all their expectations.
SWT President Jerome Supple said Thursday the university raised $74 million during the campaign, exceeding the original goal of $60 million by more than 23 percent.
Supple announced the $60 million goal in October 1996. The campaign officially ended Dec. 31, 1999, the final day of the university’s centennial.
“When we announced our goal of $60 million, it was a little daunting. I wondered if we had set the bar too high. But to surpass the goal by $14 million is wonderful. It clearly illustrates that we have alumni and friends who consider SWT worthy of their continuing support,” said Supple.
The $74 million raised in the campaign will support many university priorities, including student scholarships, academic program support, faculty and staff enrichment and development, library and collections, facilities and equipment and special projects.
The total included several large gifts, the largest two from the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation of Austin -- $12.5 million for scholarships to academically talented students and $5 million for academic chairs.
Also noted by Supple was the $5 million raised from the "family campaign," the effort among SWT’s current and retired faculty and staff headed by long-time faculty member Luan Brunson.
“We asked Luan to think about a goal of $3 million. She met with her committee and came back to us with a goal of $5 million. They reached that goal,” Supple said.
The university has now embarked on a second phase of the campaign, an effort to raise $5.25 million for facilities improvements in the Athletic Department.