Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State is announcing the conclusion of the university's four-year initiative known as "StatePride" with more than $118.3 million in private gifts.
"StatePride: An Initiative for Student and Faculty Support" officially began in 2009 with a $100 million goal and closed in December 2012 following a four-year run.
"Mississippi State is tremendously thankful for the great outpouring of support from alumni and friends over the past few years that made 'StatePride' such a resounding success," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "The investments in scholarships and endowed faculty positions are making this a stronger university and enabling us to keep pace with enrollment growth."
"StatePride" was launched with the investiture of Keenum as MSU's 19th president and over its course became a unified fundraising effort between the MSU Foundation and MSU Athletics. A portion of the annual revenue from MSU athletics matched certain gifts through the initiative.
Final totals for "StatePride" translated into over $83 million raised in student scholarships, shattering the $70 million originally sought. Also, faculty support eclipsed the $30 million expected, reaching over $35 million.
Specifically "StatePride" made possible:
--336 annual scholarships
--241 endowed scholarships
--11,882 total students received funding from scholarships and MSU Promise Awards; and
--22 endowed positions (six endowed chairs; 16 professorships).
In all, 7,781 MSU alumni and friends contributed toward the effort. Of that number, 1,779 were first-time contributors to the land-grant institution.
"Although 'StatePride' has drawn to a close, specialized fundraising efforts at Mississippi State University will continue as we cultivate additional support for the university's priorities," said John P. Rush, MSU vice president for development and alumni who serves as Foundation CEO.
Rush continued, "In keeping with MSU's strategic goals, fundraising for scholarships remains a priority and, in particular, for general university scholarships through MSU's new Compass Scholarship program. Also, endowments to create distinguished faculty positions are needed for crucial areas."
For more on the MSU Foundation, visit www.msufoundation.com.