Onward campaign well received by USD affiliates
Ball gowns and cocktail dresses, black suits and bow ties — all kinds of red-and black-attired folk gathered at the Muenster University Center Oct. 10 for the public launch of the largest fundraising campaign in South Dakota’s history.
The Onward Campaign for South Dakota, scheduled for completion in 2017, has raised $135,223,415 in private donations since it began in 2012.
Diego Marquez, a sophomore who will graduate in 2017, is excited to be able to see much of the campaign’s success.
“I’m looking forward to watching it come together. In South Dakota, we need these kinds of campaigns,” Marquez said. “It’s not just going to benefit students, it’s going to involve the whole university. If the university creates more programs — better programs — then we will get more students, more alumni, more benefits throughout.”
The event, which illuminated the MUC in a red glow, began with a cocktail hour during which University of South Dakota alumni and supporters could listen to a student led marimba band play tropical tunes while munching on delicious hor d’oeuvres while catching up with old friends and making new ones.
The main event began at 8 p.m. when USD’s marching band led the attendees into the ballroom where Cody Strand, who starred in the Broadway play ‘Book of Morman,’ took the stage and sang ‘This is the Moment’ from the musical ‘Jekyll and Hyde.’
Strand said his experiences at USD helped form the base of his success.
“I am here tonight as just one example of the difference that USD can make in the lives of their students,” Strand said. “If people get any sort of help from what I have to offer, then I count that as a win.”
Strand later performed a dance number to the song ‘Seize the Day’ from the musical ‘The Newsies’ with current USD theater students.
Governor Dennis Daugaard, USD President James Abbott and Onward Campaign co-chairs, as well as D-Days Grand Marshalls Tom and Nancy Gallagher, discussed the resiliency of USD’s Onward Campaign and how the university helps create bright futures for its students.
Abbott said he has no doubt in his mind the campaign’s target number will be reached.
“I’m absolutely confident we will make our $250 million dollar goal,” Abbott said.
Former USD Foundation President Ted Muenster, for whom the MUC was named after, said it was a great honor to have the event in his namesake building.
“It’s a beautiful building and a very appropriate venue for this kind of event,” Muenster said. “It’s an ambitious campaign that I’m very confident can be done. (It) will mean a lot to the future of USD, but also to the future of its students, buildings, faculty and resources.”
Although she will not get to see the Campaign’s entirety, junior Kelsey McCann is still happy her college will benefit so greatly from it.
“I don’t know how much I will be able to see of the Onward Campaign, but it’s such a great idea, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s going to go,” she said.
Alumni who attended the event said they were delighted at the remarkable buildings USD continues to invest in and create.
Sandra Koch, a 1972 graduate of the university, was impressed not only with the Onward Campaign, but also with the MUC.
“It looks like (the campaign) is really going forward well. I’m really impressed with this building – it’s really keeping up with the times,” Koch said.
Kelly Duncan, a 1983 USD graduate, said the new construction on campus will help USD enormously.
“The campus has changed tremendously in a very positive way. This campaign will really be able to push the campus to a higher standing,” Duncan said. “The Wellness Center and new sports complex – all of those things will help USD increase numbers and increase prestige.”
Strand, a 2012 alum, was on campus this weekend for the first time since he graduated.
“It all looks the same, but the new addition to the MUC wasn’t here when I was in school,” he said. “You see certain things on campus, and you’re like ‘whoa that’s different,’ or going downtown Vermillion and seeing new stores — it’s very nostalgic.”
Abbott said USD’s generous donors helped create such a strong university.
“If you want a great state, you must have great educational institutions — you must support them, you must move forward,” he said. “Our donors do that each and every year, each and every day.”
Other students who attended the Red Tie Launch had positive outlooks on the Onward Campaign.
Junior Sami Zoss said the Onward Campaign will benefit not only herself, but also future students, while putting USD on the map with other larger, well-known schools.
“It is going to be fantastic. The money that all the donors can bring to us at USD, the scholarships — they are all just endless opportunities for future USD students,” Zoss said. “Money talks. Having that large of a goal, I have no doubt that USD will be a driving force, a force to reckon with, because of this campaign.”
[notification type=”grey” title=”The Onward Campaign for South Dakota has four main pillars that it will allocate its donated funds to.”]1). $97 million for educational opportunities like undergraduate and graduate scholarships. 3). $12 million for student and faculty enrichment that will look to expand academic opportunity beyond the classroom through field research, study abroad and increased visits to campus by artists, scholars and professionals. 3). $29 million for endowed chairs and professorships that will assist the university in recruiting and maintaining the best faculty available. 4). $112 million for the creation of new facilities like new buildings for athletics and the health sciences, an expansion of the National Music Museum and renovations to the Law School and Fine Arts building.[/notification]
Governor Daugaard, a 1975 graduate of USD, said the Onward Campaign says a lot about the university.
“USD is the oldest university in our state, and I’m very excited about the launch of the Onward Campaign,” Daugaard said. “The ambitious goal that we’re launching tonight is certainly an indication of the breadth of support that the alumni and supporters of USD have for our alma mater.”
Tom Gallagher, co-chair of the Onward Campaign, considers USD a wonderful tool for students on the path of success.
“The University is a great outlet for people looking to leave a legacy.” Gallagher said.
(Photo: The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team takes the stage Friday night in the Muenster University Center ballroom to help present the amount of money which has been raised to date for the Onward Campaign. The campaign, which has raised over $135 million to date, will help fund the creation and expansion of new buildings, scholarships and grants for students and other educational opportunities. Megan Card / The Volante)
