Largest Grant in Foundation’s History Ensures Project Construction Will Begin on Time
By Jarett Wait ’80, Kurt Rasmussen ’80, and Tom Silver ’81, April 2018
The Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Educational Foundation voted at a recent board meeting to fund its largest grant since the Foundation was established ten years ago, the grant of $60,000 for the establishment of a new Learning Commons, which is the cornerstone of the broader Dining and Learning for the 21st Century campaign. The Learning Commons will be the center for collaborative study, enabling students to take advantage of enhanced communications capabilities, new learning infrastructure, and greater ability to use the house as a center for academic advancement. It is the next step, following the introduction of the Dick Cahoon Technology Center, which was constructed a few years ago and is widely used by students every day. This is a strategic and definitive statement being made by the Foundation toward the overall importance of the Learning Commons.
The grant will be funded over two years. The total projected cost of the Learning Commons project is estimated at $140,000 and is now fully funded, with 17 alumni donors committing $80,000. With this generous gift, total donations to the overall Dining and Learning campaign now stand at $500,000, versus our overall goal of $650,000! We are now entering the home stretch of the campaign and are asking all alumni who have yet to donate to join the over 145 alumni and parents who have already donated to support the campaign and make a gift.
Undergraduate participation to the campaign is 100%. The undergrads are currently focused on three key initiatives and are helping to play their role in the campaign:
- Parent fundraising appeal, following the recent successful Parents Weekend
- Outreach to former Sages, asking for their support and leadership
- Letter-writing campaign to over 600 alumni who have yet to make a contribution, encouraging participation
We are expecting another large turnout for Reunion this June. Reunion classes are those that end in 3 and 8. We are asking all reunion classes to consider making a class gift to the campaign.
Contributions are still needed to reach our Campaign goal. Click below to make your own contribution or for more details about the Campaign.
