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August 28, 2017

Roberts and Northeastern Complete Largest Capital Campaign in History

Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary announced today that they have exceeded their comprehensive fundraising campaign goal, generating $44 million from more than 3,200 donors. This is the largest amount raised in the history of both institutions. Legacy 150, launched in 2012, was an ambitious $42 million campaign that attracted support for scholarships, a new science and nursing center, renovation of an adjoining science center and growth of both schools’ endowments.

The campaign’s co-chairs were the late Norman Leenhouts and 1979 Roberts Wesleyan graduate Debbie Schmidt, who encouraged others to give as part of their personal legacy to make a difference for the next generation of students.

“The campaign was launched with a focus on strengthening our institutions’ foundations through increased scholarship support for students, strategic investment in our science and nursing academic programs, program support for the seminary and capital improvements on our campus,” President Deana L. Porterfield said. “It is very gratifying to have achieved these objectives while exceeding our campaign goal. The success of the campaign is a tremendous accomplishment and would not have been possible without the leadership of our trustees, administrators and many others throughout our community who generously provided their support.”

Over the course of the five-year campaign, scholarship support for students increased by more than $6 million for the college and $1.7 million for the seminary. The Crothers Science & Nursing Center was boosted by an anonymous gift of $3.5 million, increasing opportunities for cross-disciplinary training events between nursing, criminal justice, social work and the seminary in state-of-the-art nursing simulation and skills labs. 

Other highlights include the creation of labs for advanced and general physics, chemistry and biology, and the college’s new graduate research lab that supports student research. The renovation of Smith Hall includes a lecture hall, multiple large classrooms, collaboration spaces, the college’s first Crime Scene Investigation lab, and optics, electronics and computer labs.

“Our significantly improved facilities, along with dramatic growth in endowments, will allow us to better serve our current and future students and faculty,” Porterfield said. “The success of this campaign underscores the enthusiasm our community feels for Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary. We are grateful to have so many champions of our mission of providing a transformative education. Our history is rich with visionary leadership, and we intend to continue that as we move forward.” 


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