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February 11, 2015

Roberts Receives $3.5 Million Naming Gift from Anonymous Donor for New Science and Nursing Center

In conjunction with its ongoing Legacy 150 capital campaign, Roberts Wesleyan College has received a $3.5 million naming gift from an anonymous donor for the college’s new 40,000-square-foot, two-floor science and nursing building. The donor has chosen to designate the building the Crothers Science and Nursing Center in honor of William C. and Rilla L. Crothers. William Crothers served as Roberts Wesleyan’s ninth president from 1981 to 2002.

“We are deeply grateful for this transformative gift, which will enable first-rate educational facilities for science and nursing instruction and training,” Roberts President Dr. Deana L. Porterfield said. “The Crothers Science and Nursing Center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, simulation laboratories and an experimental greenhouse. This new facility will double the space for science and nursing programs, which will help Roberts attract the best and brightest STEM students.”

The Crothers Science and Nursing Center was designed by SWBR Architects, and LeChase Construction is the general contractor for the project. College officials broke ground on the project in March 2014 and the building is set to open in fall of 2015.

“To give such a generous gift anonymously truly reflects humility. We honor this donor as an incredibly supportive partner in furthering Christian higher education and as an example for the next generation of Christian leaders,” Porterfield said.

The Legacy 150 campaign was launched in May 2014, and the naming gift is the largest donation received to date. Roberts has raised $11,756,175, or 61 percent, of the $19 million goal established for the science and nursing building. The total Legacy 150 campaign goal, including endowment and scholarship expansion, is $42 million.

An updated listing of the campaign’s overall progress is available at legacy150.roberts.edu.

Democrat and Chronicle Coverage of Naming Gift

Rochester Business Journal Coverage

WXXI Coverage