The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Business announced that it has received a generous gift of $500,000 from an alumna and her husband, who live in Arizona. The gift will support scholarships and professional development programs for students and faculty.
A passion for education and business
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, are both successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. They have a strong connection to UNL, as the wife graduated from the College of Business in 1972 with a degree in accounting. She credits her education at UNL for giving her the skills and confidence to pursue her career goals.
The couple said they decided to make the gift because they believe in the mission and vision of the College of Business, and they want to help the next generation of business leaders achieve their potential.
“We are very impressed by the quality of education and research that the College of Business provides, and we are proud to be part of the Husker family,” they said. “We hope that our gift will make a difference in the lives of many students and faculty, and that it will inspire others to support the college as well.”
A strategic investment in the future
The gift will be used to create an endowed fund that will generate income for the college every year. The fund will support two main areas: scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and professional development programs for faculty and staff.
The scholarships will help attract and retain talented and diverse students to the College of Business, and provide them with financial assistance and academic opportunities. The professional development programs will help enhance the skills and knowledge of the faculty and staff, and foster a culture of excellence and innovation.
Dean Kathy Farrell said the gift will have a lasting impact on the college and its stakeholders.
“This is a wonderful gift that reflects the generosity and vision of our donors, and their commitment to education and business,” she said. “We are very grateful for their support, and we look forward to using it to advance our strategic goals and to give our students and faculty the competitive edge in the workforce.”
The gift is part of the College of Business’s campaign to create six new endowed faculty chairs, which are permanently endowed funds of $1 million each. The campaign was launched in 2019 with a challenge gift of $2.5 million from Jim and Georgia Thompson, who are also alumni and benefactors of the college. The Thompsons offered to match $500,000 for each of the five new chairs, and invited other donors to name the chairs they helped create.
So far, four other donors have joined the challenge: Steve and Jennifer David, Alice Dittman, J.E. Van Horne Jr., and former College of Business Dean Cynthia Hardin Milligan. The endowed chairs will provide faculty stipends to support competitive salaries and research, and help the college retain and recruit outstanding faculty members.
The College of Business is still seeking one more donor to complete the challenge and create the sixth endowed chair.
A celebration of giving and gratitude
The College of Business celebrated the $6 million in gifts for the new endowed chairs on December 21, 2020, in a virtual event that featured remarks from the donors, the dean, and the chancellor. The event also showcased the achievements and aspirations of the college, and thanked all the contributors for their generosity and leadership.
The donors said they were honored to be part of the celebration, and to witness the growth and success of the College of Business.
“We are very happy to see how far the college has come, and how much it has to offer to the students, the faculty, and the community,” they said. “We are confident that the college will continue to excel and to make a positive difference in the world of business and beyond.”
