$100 million from Pickens helps launch $1 billion OSU campaign
Friday, February 26, 2010
Oklahoma State University Unveils Five-Year Campaign to Raise $1 Billion to Fund Scholarships,
Faculty Positions, Research, Programs and Facilities
Oklahoma State Alumnus, Energy Entrepreneur and Philanthropist T. Boone Pickens Announces
$100 Million Challenge Gift to Fund Student Scholarships
Oklahoma State President V. Burns Hargis Announces $537 Million Raised in 26 Months
for “Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University”
- To view Feb. 26 event, click here.
- For more on the Branding Success campaign, go to: http://osugiving.com.
- Photos of the event can be found on our Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157623514435410/
(STILLWATER, OK – February 26, 2010) – Before an orange-clad crowd in the packed atrium
of the Student Union on the campus of Oklahoma State University (OSU), the president
of OSU, V. Burns Hargis, announced a $1 billion campaign to raise private funds to
strengthen student scholarships and aid, endowments for faculty support, as well as
fund advanced research and academic initiatives, and upgrade teaching and research
facilities, including renovations to the Student Union and the construction of additional
essential facilities, such as the Spears School of Business and a new Performing Arts
Center.
“This campaign marks the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the history of Oklahoma
State University,” noted Hargis, who is also an OSU alumnus. “The incredible generosity
of graduates and friends around the world who believe in our land-grant mission and
embrace our vision to make OSU a leader in education, public service, and research
has inspired and encouraged us to move forward with this historic campaign at this
time.”
Hargis continued, “The need has never been greater at Oklahoma State, and now is the
time for us to seek significant private funds so we can serve our students, support
our faculty and fund vital research at a much higher level than ever before. This
campaign will secure OSU’s place as one of America’s premier public universities and
a leader among land-grant universities.”
The $ 1 billion campaign, called ‘Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State
University,’ is chaired by OSU graduates Ross and Billie McKnight of Throckmorton,
Texas. The McKnights, who founded and now operate several successful business enterprises
in banking, energy and ranching, met at OSU in 1969. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity for Billie and me to give back in a big way to the university that means
so much to both of us. We are honored to lead this campaign,” Ross McKnight said.
“We credit a lot of our success to the education and experiences we gained as students
at OSU, and we know the lasting benefits of this campaign on OSU are incalculable.”
Though the campaign is being publicly launched today, the “quiet phase” of the campaign
has been underway since President Hargis’ appointment in Dec. 2007. More than $437
million has been committed in conjunction with this campaign, President Hargis reported.
Pickens Announces Surprise $100 Million Challenge Gift – Pushes Total Raised to $537
Million
As President Hargis unveiled the $437 million amount, OSU alumnus, entrepreneur and
philanthropist T. Boone Pickens joined him at the podium for a surprise announcement.
The curious crowd watched as Pickens announced a $100 million testamentary challenge
gift to fund a major endowment for scholarships to not only attract more students
to OSU, but also provide financial assistance to students who are eager to attend
a major research university but are unable to do so because of personal financial
limitations.
“You know me - I want us to be the best in everything we do at Oklahoma State. We
are not going to be second to anyone, either academically or athletically. I know
the leadership now in place at OSU with Ann and Burns has been a game-changer. We
are on the move in ways I could have never imagined a few years ago. These are exciting
times at OSU, and the possibilities are limitless. I was amazed at the sheer number
of people who stepped up to support the stadium project and the $100 million match
to endowed chairs and professorships. There is no doubt in my mind we will succeed
again,” Pickens said.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to Boone for his continued generosity to Oklahoma
State. Boone’s astounding gift, combined with the many other advance gifts we have
already received, puts us in a strong position to meet and even exceed our billion
dollar goal before Dec. 31, 2014--the target date for the completion of the campaign,”
Hargis said.
In his remarks, President Hargis outlined how the one billion dollars would be used
to address pressing, immediate needs as well as emerging opportunities. He said $500
million will be used to endow scholarships and fellowships for students; $200 million
will be used to attract and retain top-flight professors and researchers; $200 million
to construct and upgrade educational and research facilities; and $100 million to
create and sustain programs and provide services that will benefit the citizens, communities
and economic well-being of Oklahoma.
“We have a responsibility to build on the momentum we have established today,” Hargis
said. “This campaign is indeed audacious and historic in its scope and magnitude.
The money we will raise through ‘Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State
University’ will have a tremendous impact on OSU, our faculty, and students as well
as our state and beyond, benefitting generations to come. This is our time to redefine
the future of OSU, raise expectations, seize opportunities and do something truly
purposeful and exceptional.”
To learn more about ‘Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University,’
visit www.OSUgiving.com.
The OSU Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated
by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities
to achieve excellence.
Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that
improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated,
high-quality teaching, research and outreach. More than 32,000 students attend OSU
with nearly 21,000 on the main campus in Stillwater. Students are from all 50 states
and around 110 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000
students. Today, OSU graduates are making a lasting difference in Oklahoma, the nation
and the world.
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