CANYON — The grassy area in front of the recently renovated Geneva Schaeffer Education Building at West Texas A&M University was full of flutter flags and tables of students, faculty and staff as the One West campaign celebrated their recent victory of collecting more than $208 million in their capital campaign for research and development.
It was estimated that around 13,377 different donors made contributions to the WT campaign from $10s to 10s of millions, according to information provided about the record-breaking campaign.
The on-campus event was held after an earlier celebration with donors and special guests on April 16 unveiled the total amount raised and marked the official end of the five-year comprehensive fundraising campaign.
It focused on three priorities: people, programs, and places. Among other achievements, One West helped WT grow from 26 to 109 endowed professorships and chairs, have a 31.3% increase in endowed scholarships, and add several additions and improvements in its schools and new facilities on the Canyon campus.
As hot dogs and chips were doled out Wednesday, April 22, people milled about the area and enjoyed the celebration, talking with each other and reveling in the experience.
Even Sally, the baby buffalo, was there and enjoyed the feast and attention she received from people attending the celebration for the most money raised in a fundraising campaign in Texas Panhandle history.
A brief announcement was made by WT President Dr. Walter Wendler and Dr. Todd Rasberry, VP of Philanthropy and External Relations for WT.
“We wanted to make sure we had an event to celebrate the success of the campaign with faculty, staff and students,” Rasberry said after the event, “and to thank them for their part in the success of the campaign as donors … folks who work every day to fulfill the mission of the institution. They have been as invested in the campaign as much as anybody.”
Rasberry said that the faculty, staff and students are important for strategically fulfilling the mission of the institution and putting to good use the funds that were raised.
“The work that they do every day in the next year will be evidence to donors of how their investment is impacting WT in the plan,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: One West campaign success shared with WT students, staff and faculty
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
