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Archived News
2008
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DAKOTA STATE FOUNDATION ----------------------- Multi-Year Campaign Focuses on --------------- (Madison, SD) The Dakota State University Foundation will begin a new campaign aimed at doubling the University Scholarship Endowment of the next few years. The campaign seeks to establish a permanent pool of funds large enough to support most of the University's scholarship needs. "The University is giving about $400,000 in scholarships this coming school year," said Dale Kringen, Foundation Board President. "About half of that comes from the endowment and the other half comes from annual contributions that have to be raised each year. By doubling the endowment, we can strengthen the base and our scholarships will not be as impacted by the ups and downs of fund raising." At a recent Foundation Board meeting, Kringen called for "500 at $5,000," meaning 500 new endowment contributions at $5,000 each or the equivalent but seeking a total of $2.5 million in growth. School officials maintain that an endowment of this size would help to sustain the growth in student registrations experienced by Dakota State over the past two years. Kringen highlighted his personnel support for the program by making the first $5,000 contribution. "We've nicknamed the campaign the DSU 500," said Marty Gallanter, Foundation Director. "Like the Indianapolis 500, this project is not only about speed but about endurance. The increase in the endowment can help guarantee the long-term health of the institution." Gallanter said that the campaign will focus on alumni support and corporate contributions. In the corporate area, Gallanter expects to focus heavily on the companies that recruit new employees at Dakota State. "These corporations are happy to contribute to a school that provides a well-educated, well-trained work force," Gallanter continued. "We have established a Business and Industrial Advisory Committee so the needs of our corporate supporters can be heard when curriculum is being developed. Our status as the number 12 Most Wired College in America is also drawing additional support." The reference was to Yahoo Internet Magazine's special College Issue that reached the public in late April. The cover article is entitled "America's 100 Most Wired Colleges" and Dakota State University was listed as number 12 in the nation. In prior years, Dakota State had not even make the list. "Our ranking emphasizes our progress," Gallanter said. "This is not an award for having lots of computers on campus. This is an award for knowing how to use those computers while educating young people for life." The magazine article supports this position. "….the basic hardwiring on campuses became secondary to the ways in which colleges and universities where using these new networks to improve academic and recreational life," the article said in both the magazine and web site versions. "These evolving criteria….led to some interesting ranking shifts." The magazine then continued with an article on the Madison, SD university entitled "Dakota State: The Envy of the Ivies." The text went on to say that Dakota State had achieved its new status in part because of "pioneering work in distance learning, a strong push to integrate the Net into course work, and tremendous student interest in the Web." "This recognition of our cutting-edge work in merging technology and education has been increasing both corporate and alumni support," Gallanter concluded. "Everyone wants to be attached to a winner." -30- |
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