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CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) -- Southern Utah University set a new fundraising record in 2007 with $15.5 million in pledges in donations.
That amount is almost $6 million more than the school's previous record, university officials said.
"We hope it's the first of many great years ahead," President Michael Benson said. "If we're going to reach our ambitious goals, we'll have to have years like this. People have been very generous. That means everything to a school our size."
Benson said the totals are indicative of a renewed emphasis on fundraising by the school's advancement campaign.
"I think the future is extremely bright for Southern Utah University," said Stuart Jones, vice president of advancement. "I suspect the university will receive even greater generosity in the future. I think this is just a sign of bigger things to come."
Southern Utah University leads the Utah System of Higher Education in student enrollment growth, straining state resources. "We can always rely on state support, but that only takes you so far," Benson said. "Our margins of excellence are expanded by private support. If you want to get a building built, you have to go out and augment what the state will support."
Fundraising support came from throughout the school.
Men's basketball coach Roger Reid raised half a million dollars for the next five years within a month of his hiring.
In addition, the university received a donation of $3 million for an expansion of its science building, $1 million for the establishment of an endowed chair and $650,000 toward a new teacher education building, according to Jennifer Burt, SUU's director of communications.
"The fact is, our alumni and friends see the university as a premier institution and people love to give to winners. We have a lot of exciting programs and initiatives that people want to support and see enhanced," Jones said.
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Information from: The Spectrum
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
