Agricultural News
OSU New Frontiers Campaign Reaches Fundraising Milestone
Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:32:34 CDT
Oklahoma State University officials announced today that OSU surpassed the $50 million fundraising goal for the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall with the generosity of more than 600 donors. The milestone comes two and a half years after publicly launching the campaign, which will help build a state-of-the-art teaching, research and Extension facility for OSU Agriculture.
OSU President Kayse Shrum, Thomas G. Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture, and Blaire Atkinson, OSU Foundation president, announced reaching the fundraising milestone during a special video announcement broadcast on Inside OSU.
"This new facility will transform and modernize OSU Agriculture," Shrum said. "It will also strengthen OSU's position as a leader in innovation and continue our tradition of recruiting talented students and faculty. The New Frontiers project embodies our land-grant mission and supports the important role OSU plays in the lives of Oklahomans and the state's economy."
To celebrate reaching the $50 million New Frontiers goal, a Sweet Success Celebration will be held at 10 a.m. July 26 on the north side of Agricultural Hall on the OSU-Stillwater campus.
"We hope you can join us to celebrate this momentous occasion and witness the raising of the OSU Agriculture flag on the construction site," Coon said. "Just as cornerstone donors Kayleen and Larry Ferguson envisioned, this project is advancing OSU Agriculture and its programs by fostering innovation to help feed the world."
The Fergusons announced a historic gift in January 2020, launching the public phase of the New Frontiers campaign and renaming the college to the Ferguson College of Agriculture.
A little more than a year later, OSU Agriculture, alongside campaign donors, celebrated a groundbreaking event for the transformational project, which will strengthen the three pillars of the land-grant mission: teaching, research and Extension.
Construction for the new building began in May 2021, and the site is currently booming with activity.
Coon said the success of the campaign is a result of numerous supporters, including 10 cornerstone donors and more than 115 major gift donors, as well as industry and corporate major gift donors.
To date, the campaign has received 808 gifts from 611 donors. Of these donors, 51 were first-time major gift donors of $25,000 or larger to the OSU Foundation.
New Frontiers is recognized as one of the fastest capital campaigns at OSU, and the first academic capital campaign on campus to reach its goal prior to construction completion and the building opening.
"New Frontiers surpassed its goal in less than three years, thanks to donors and supporters who invested in the future of not only our OSU Agriculture family but also the state of Oklahoma," Coon said. "However, it's important we continue to create opportunities for people to add their support."
The $115.2 million project cost covers the base plan, but OSU Agriculture faculty, staff and students hope to see additional building features incorporated if more funding becomes available, said Heidi Williams, associate vice president for the OSU Foundation.
"Although we have reached our $50 million goal, we will continue to raise support as we have naming opportunities available and features of the building that we know will enhance our efforts," she said. "These additional features will only be possible through additional donor support, and due to the pandemic, we know there are alumni and donors we have not yet engaged in the project who will want to participate."
The Fergusons said they look forward to applauding the New Frontiers campaign milestone during the Sweet Success Celebration.
"We wish to thank all the donors who joined alongside us in making this building a reality and giving a new home to the faculty, staff and students of the Ferguson College of Agriculture," said Kayleen Ferguson, cornerstone donor. "Thank you for advancing our mission to help feed the world through the programs, people and facilities of OSU Agriculture."
To RSVP for the July 26 Sweet Success Celebration, please call Christy Henley at 405-385-0974 or email events@osugiving.com by July 22. For more information, visit New Frontiers for campaign status, construction updates and donor stories.
The New Frontiers campaign was launched in January 2020 to build a new state-of-the-art facility for OSU Agriculture. The New Frontiers Agricultural Hall, expected to open in fall 2024, further advances teaching, research and Extension efforts that are critical to the state's economy, citizens' safety and quality of life. By advancing OSU Agriculture and its programs, New Frontiers is fostering innovation to help feed the world.
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