It’s been one year since Millikin publicly launched “Transform MU,” a five-year, $85 million capital campaign, with an announcement that more than $25 million had already been contributed by alumni, parents, community leaders and friends of the university. Since that time, an additional $22 million has been pledged to the campaign, including an $11.5 million commitment made in late March, the largest such commitment in the history of the university (see next page for complete details).
The “Transform MU” campaign seeks funding to revitalize the east side of Millikin’s 75-acre campus through planned renovations and expansions to two existing campus buildings, construction of a new university center and enhancing athletic facilities. Other goals include increasing support for The Millikin Fund, the university’s endowment, faculty development and student scholarships.
“The response we have received to this transformational campaign thus far has been exceptional,” says Peg Luy, vice president for alumni and development and a 1975 Millikin graduate. Luy leads the staff members who work with volunteers to coordinate fundraising efforts.
The campaign’s steering committee is co-chaired by Millikin Trustee Dr. Stephen Huss, a Decatur orthopaedic surgeon, and Emeritus Trustee Mike Waller ’63, retired publisher and CEO of The Baltimore Sun. Doug Oberhelman ’75, CEO of Caterpillar Inc., serves as honorary chairman.
Learn more about the campaign at www.millikin.edu/transform or call toll-free to 1-877-JMU-ALUM (568-2586).
Transformational $11.5 million to help fund three priorities
On March 28, Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman ’75 joined then Millikin Interim President Peggy Luy, also ’75, to announce an investment of up to $11.5 million in the “Transform MU” campaign, the largest such investment in Millikin’s history.
The investment, made both by the Caterpillar Foundation and personally by Doug Oberhelman and his wife, Diane, will support creation of a new university center that will house the Oberhelman Leadership Development Center, help renovate Millikin’s oldest residence hall to create a center for international education and double the number of students supported by the university’s Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program for minority students.
“One of the things that I remember so well from my time at Millikin is the spirit and confidence that was instilled in all of us – that we could go anywhere and do anything we wanted,” said Doug Oberhelman, who is honorary chair of the “Transform MU” campaign steering committee. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world and to hold a variety of jobs, and I’ve carried those early lessons from Millikin with me every step of the way. Diane and I are personally committed to the university’s ongoing success and to making sure future Millikin graduates have the opportunity to thrive both personally and professionally.”
“Millikin has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Caterpillar, extending back nearly six decades to 1955 when the company made its first investment in the university,” Luy said at the announcement. “We are tremendously grateful for the generous support that Caterpillar has demonstrated to Millikin through the years, and this investment will do much to further our mission of preparing students to be confident, inspired global citizens by providing expanded opportunities for leadership development and international education.”
The $7 million investment from the Caterpillar Foundation, consisting of a $3.5 million core investment plus a $3.5 million challenge matching grant, will be supplemented by a $3.0 million personal donation and a $1.5 million challenge matching grant from the Oberhelmans.
“Caterpillar has hired hundreds of Millikin graduates through the years, including Doug Oberhelman, a Caterpillar employee since shortly after his graduation from Millikin in 1975,” Luy said. “Doug is one of the finest examples of how the unique performance-learning attributes of a Millikin education give rise to graduates who have the confidence to not only succeed, but thrive. He fulfills Millikin’s mission to attain professional success, democratic citizenship in a global environment and a personal life of meaning and value. The Oberhelmans’ commitment will help ensure that the same solid foundation Doug received at Millikin is available for future generations.”
Funding Plans
Creation of the Oberhelman Leadership Development Center - $6.5 million
Total funding to create the Oberhelman Leadership Development Center on the second floor of the new University Center includes a $3.5 million challenge matching grant by the Caterpillar Foundation to match donations made by Caterpillar employees and retirees, as well as $3 million donated personally by the Oberhelmans, for a total gift of $6.5 million. The proposed center will be home to more than 100 student leadership organizations, including student government, Greek life and the multicultural student council. Emerging and seasoned student leaders will have the opportunity to share their resources and practice leadership, management, marketing and technical skills. The new Center will include student organization and development areas, collaboration rooms and three flexible laboratory areas.
Creation of a new Center for International Education - $3 million
The Caterpillar Foundation has also committed $3 million to help create a new center for international education through the renovation of Aston Hall, originally built in 1907. The proposed center will complement the academic experience, offering a variety of cultural, educational, social and recreational programs for students. The Center will provide residence hall space for up to 70 international and domestic students, faculty offices, a lecture/conference hall, two “smart” classrooms and a resource room.
Challenge gift for donors to the new University Center - $1.5 million
The Oberhelmans have also committed to a $1.5 million personal challenge matching grant for potential donors to the new University Center.
Expansion of the University’s Long-Vanderburg Scholars Program - $500,000
The Caterpillar Foundation is also investing $500,000 in MU’s Long-Vanderburg Scholars program, which recognizes high scholastic achievement among historically underrepresented students by providing scholarship support and development opportunities. The program will double from 60 to 120 students in a four-year period and be renamed the Long-Vanderburg Caterpillar Scholars program.
The $85 million “Transform MU” campaign was launched in May 2010 and will revitalize the east side of Millikin’s campus, as well as make significant advances in creating new student scholarships, increasing endowment and faculty development funds, and improving infrastructure. To date, the campaign has raised more than $47 million dollars.
For more information, visit the campaign website at www.millikin.edu/transform.