Shippensburg University Foundation raises an unprecedented $50MM at the conclusion of the Navigating into the 

Future Comprehensive Campaign - $10MM over the projected goal.

      The Shippensburg University Foundation marked the official end of its comprehensive campaign on Saturday evening (September 9) and announced that the campaign passed the $50 million mark.

      The announcement was made at a Campaign Victory Celebration that was attended by more than 870 donors and friends of the University. 

      Navigating into the Future: The Campaign for Shippensburg University was publicly launched in September 2002 with a $40 million goal, making it the largest campaign in the history of the University.  At its launch, Navigating into the Future was the largest campaign in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

      In announcing the $50 million-plus total, John “Mac” Aichele, president of the SU Foundation , called the campaign “an unprecedented success.  Through the dedication and commitment of donors who know Shippensburg University and believe in its mission, we proudly announce tonight that we not only have surpassed our goal, but that we are addressing each of the major components of the campaign,” he said.

      Developed following a joint resolution by the SU Foundation Board of Directors and the University Council of Trustees, Navigating into the Future had four major components: high priority facilities; endowment to support students, faculty, and programs; funds for technology and equipment; and support for the Annual Fund.

      The H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center and the Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School, two of the high priority facilities identified by University and SU Foundation leaders, were each made possible through the success of Navigating into the Future.

      From its opening, the Luhrs Center has been an overwhelmingly successful regional performing arts center that has enabled the University to bring nationally known performers to the campus. 

      Dr. G.F. “Jody” Harpster, interim president of the University, noted that the University had long wanted to build a regional performing arts center. He said, “With the opening of the Luhrs Center, we are now able to bring in first-rate, named entertainers on a regular basis.  That benefits the campus, the Shippensburg community, and our entire region.”

      Dr. Harpster added, “I greatly appreciate the contributions made by the donors to the Navigating into the Future campaign.  Their support has made it possible for Shippensburg University to build upon its strengths as a university and as a proud member of the region.”

      The Luhrs Center also has an academic facility.  The Department of Music and Theater Arts has offices and teaching facilities in the Luhrs Center.  The building also houses state-of-the-art smart classrooms, a keyboard lab, practice facilities, piano studios, and a music library.

      The Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School, another of the high priority needs identified in the campaign, includes the nationally accredited Shippensburg University Child and Family Center, a library, a computer laboratory, daycare/early childhood education classrooms, and science facilities, as well as classrooms and a playground.

      Navigating into the Future included a goal of $12 million for endowment gifts.  These permanently invested funds that are managed by the SU Foundation , support scholarships, endowed chairs, endowed professorships, Joint Faculty-Student research, and several other programs at the University.

      Support for endowment reached more than $22 million in gifts and commitments, while the endowment grew by more than 42 percent during the campaign.  As a result of the success of Navigating into the Future, 90 endowed funds were created, including 79 endowed scholarship funds.  These scholarship funds will currently enable 94 additional deserving students to receive financial assistance each year.  As additional commitments were fulfilled and gifs are received, the number of endowed scholarships will increase significantly.

      During Navigating into the Future, the first-ever science endowment at Shippensburg University was created and new equipment was purchased that will affect nearly every part of the campus.  The Kresge Science Endowment, a $1 million-plus fund, will provide the support needed by the University to address its needs in maintaining, updating, repairing, and eventually replacing equipment in the sciences.

      The Kresge Science Endowment is the result of successfully meeting a Challenge Grant from The Kresge Foundation.

      Annual Fund support, the fourth major component of the comprehensive campaign, provides the margin of excellence to support programs and opportunities at the University that would otherwise not be funded.  The $10 million goal for Annual Fund support during the campaign was met and exceeded.