The Campaign for WSU: Because the World Needs Big Ideas

WSU is nearing completion of a multi-year, billion-dollar campaign. The positive impact of this intense fundraising effort on the Colleges of Arts and Sciences is already being felt in the creation of 73 new endowments to support student scholarships, fellowships, research, faculty programs, and operations in our college.

Our ultimate goal is $61 million and, with one year still to go in the campaign, we’ve raised almost $58 million.

 

Here are a few examples of the ways donors have given and the importance and impact of their gifts to CAS:

The Calvin and Jean Long Distinguished Lectureship in Pure Mathematicswas established by former faculty member Cal Long. He made an outright gift to set up the fund. As Cal said, “Mathematics is the language of Science. Without mathematics modern science as we know it today simply would not exist.” The lectureship was established out of Cal’s appreciation for WSU because the University gave him opportunities to share his love and enthusiasm for mathematics with students at every level. The first lecture was presented by Arthur Benjamin, better known as “The Mathemagician.” His famously rapid mental calculations—“faster than a calculator”—amazed students, faculty, and members of the community, including many children, who filled Daggy Hall to overflowing. (He kindly performed a second show for people who had been standing outside.)

The Betty K. Adams, MD, Endowed Health Sciences Scholarship was provided by Dr. Betty Adams, who attended WSU before entering to medical school at UW. Dr. Adams returned to Pullman as a staff physician at the WSU student health services, where she practiced for almost 40 years. She established this scholarship because she recognizes the need for multidisciplinary teams to provide quality medical care. The fund is set up as a “flex” endowment, which enables a student scholarship to be awarded each year. Dr. Adams enjoys meeting the scholarship recipients and seeing how her gifts support WSU students in health science.

The Lloyd G. Cyr Memorial Excellence Endowment was set up through his estate plan to support the Cougar Marching Band. Cyr (’55 political science) played the clarinet in the band while he was a student and delighted in being a Coug throughout his life. His gift acknowledges the many ways campus organizations and student activities enrich the college experience and help cultivate bonds between alumni and the University. Few things can unite an entire community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community residents—like Cougar Athletics, and few groups have the power to rev up the Cougar spirit like the Cougar Marching Band. In 2013, the band received $300,000 to create five annual scholarships for members and to supplement travel and operations budgets.

Learn more about the many ways to support the College of Arts and Sciences.

For further details, contact Valoree Gregory, director of development, at 509-335-4556 or vgregory@wsu.edu.