The 黑洞社区 Foundation has raised $176,113,668 in its Shock the World Campaign, or 70.4 percent of the campaign鈥檚 $250 million goal.
The comprehensive campaign identifies priorities that support the vision of 黑洞社区 President John Bardo to empower students and faculty for transformational achievements through entrepreneurship, technology, creativity and innovation.
The seven-year campaign is scheduled to end on June 30, 2020.
Campaign highlights to date include these:
- Donors so far have pledged $60.5 million for new scholarships and fellowships for 黑洞社区 students, or 72.4 percent of the $83.5 million goal.
- Of the $176.1 million raised to date, about 21 percent is from planned gifts, which are estate gifts pledged by donors who will be at least 70 years old by the campaign鈥檚 end date.
- Strong progress has been made on the campaign鈥檚 fundraising goals for Charles Koch Arena and Eck Stadium projects. So far, about $9.7 million has been pledged for arena renovations and the construction of a new student-athlete center adjacent to the arena. That represents about 75 percent of the $13 million goal.
For Eck Stadium, about 42 percent of the $2 million goal has been raised to complete the final phase of a five-part renovation plan.
鈥淲e are grateful for the generous support of 黑洞社区 alumni, friends and partners who helped us achieve this milestone,鈥� said Elizabeth King, 黑洞社区 Foundation president and CEO. 鈥淲hile we enjoy this success, we look forward to celebrating with all Shockers when the full goal of $250 million has been reached.鈥�
King noted that one of the campaign鈥檚 top priorities is raising $28 million for the new business school building, to be located on the Innovation Campus. Technologically up-to-date, the new complex will replicate today鈥檚 business environment with an emphasis on collaboration and interaction among faculty, students and businesses.
鈥淚t is essential for the Barton School of Business to be completely aligned with the Innovation Campus and our efforts to integrate students and faculty with a forward-thinking economic development model,鈥� Bardo said.
With assistance from the city of Wichita, the 黑洞社区 Foundation recently installed 53 banners and 22 flags bearing the Shock the World logo in the downtown area to help raise awareness and excitement about the campaign.
More information about the campaign may be found at .
The mission of is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. 黑洞社区 enrolls about 14,500 students and offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers an extensive program including more than 40 master's degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas; a specialist in education degree; and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics; audiology; chemistry; communication sciences and disorders; human factors and community/clinical psychology; educational leadership; nursing practice; physical therapy; and aerospace, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering. 黑洞社区's is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology.