Marshall University surpasses campaign goal
with $110 million

When Marshall University kicked off the public phase of its Campaign for National Prominence in September 2002, it set an unprecedented goal of raising $100 million in private donations by Dec. 31, 2005.

On Friday, Feb. 24, Glen Kerkian, president and chief executive officer of the Marshall University Foundation Inc., announced that Marshall not only reached its goal, but exceeded it by 10 percent. The total amount raised or pledged in the campaign was nearly $110 million, Kerkian said.

“This campaign has lifted people’s sights as to what we can collectively accomplish at Marshall,” Kerkian said. “And once sights are raised they never return to the old norm!”

The campaign’s successful conclusion was celebrated Friday evening during a private event at the Edgewood Country Club in Charleston. Tim Haymaker, national chairman of the campaign, was among those attending.

“Raising $100 million was a daunting task,” Haymaker said. “To get to $110 million is incredible. This is the first of many capital campaigns at Marshall. In addition to the cash and pledges (already received), you also are plowing fields and sowing seeds for continuous harvest.”

Kerkian highlighted several projects that were at least partially funded with campaign funds: They include:

• 182 new student scholarships created during campaign

• New uniforms for the Marching Thunder

• The university’s move to Conference USA

• Construction of the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center

• Renovations of Morrow Library

Haymaker, a Marshall graduate now living in Lexington, Ky., described serving as national chairman of the campaign as “an awesome responsibility.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to Marshall University through leadership and participation as well as financially,” Haymaker said. “Not forgetting where your roots are and having this opportunity to give back is an awesome responsibility and one I enjoyed enormously.”

He praised the campaign workers and those who have contributed and will continue to do so in the future. “One of the things I’ve said so frequently is, don’t forget those who gave the money,” Haymaker said. “I just happened to be in the leadership position.”

As in most capital campaigns, most of the funds that were donated to the university came as specified gifts for individual projects or scholarships.