Buena Vista University Announces Stine Endowment for School of Science
Storm Lake, Iowa (PRWEB) October 28, 2014 -- Buena Vista University (BVU) has received an endowment gift of $2.7 million from agribusiness entrepreneur Harry Stine and his wife Molly for the BVU School of Science.
The Stine Endowment gift was established in support of the University’s recent five-year capital campaign, “See Tomorrow: The Campaign for Buena Vista University”, the most ambitious fundraising effort in Buena Vista University’s history, which raised just over $30 million and exceeded the original $27.5 million goal.
“This endowment allows us to significantly expand opportunities for our School of Science students, taking a fantastic program and making it even better. It is through significant transformative gifts like this that our academic programs can advance from good to great, and from great to exceptional,” said BVU President Fred Moore. “The Stine Endowment gives our students the opportunity to dream big and enables our faculty to advance our science program to the next level of excellence.”
The Stine Endowment is intended to promote, support and expand high-impact educational practices and enriched learning opportunities for students in the BVU School of Science. Specifically, the endowment will support joint student and faculty research, presentation of research findings at regional and national professional conferences, student internships, student research opportunities on campus and at institutions nationwide and innovation in the delivery of the science curriculum.
“Education has been extremely important in the history of our country and to the Midwest in particular. While education is widespread today, it’s also important that students understand how the world works,” said Stine. “Molly and I are extremely pleased to support Buena Vista University’s science program and give students access to additional knowledge and experiences. We are thankful for the opportunity to help generations understand the importance that science plays in our world.”
The Stine Chair will be responsible for overseeing the use of the endowment and, along with support from a committee of three additional faculty members from the School of Science and the school dean, will be charged with developing and promoting opportunities that support the goals of the Stine Endowment. The first faculty member named to the Stine Chair is Dr. James Hampton, professor of biology at BVU, who will hold the position for a three-year term.
“Harry is one of the greatest living geneticists and an impressive businessman, so having his vote of confidence in this program, our curriculum, our faculty, and our students is humbling and a great honor,” said Dr. Hampton. “Our School of Science will strive to take the seeds Harry has planted with this endowment, nurture our students and deliver an exceptional group of scientists, mathematicians, healthcare providers and other professionals who will make a lasting impact in all areas of science.”
About Buena Vista University
Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University offers 43 majors and 15 pre-professional programs that blend liberal arts with real-world applications, preparing students for lifelong success. Its quality academic programs, faculty, facilities, and technology result in 97 percent of BVU’s recent graduates being employed or enrolled in graduate/professional schools within six months of graduation, based on a 98 percent survey response rate. Generous merit and need-based financial aid programs, and support for academic travel, research, and internships, make BVU an affordable option for all students and, combined with its academic programs, has led U.S. News & World Report to rank BVU as the third best value school among Midwest Regional Colleges and to an A-rating from Standard & Poor’s. Visit http://www.bvu.edu.
Jill Heisterkamp, Buena Vista University, http://www.bvu.edu, +1 712.749.2644, [email protected]
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