FHSU receives $2.5 million gift

The Fort Hays State University Power of One Scholarship Campaign received another financial boost this morning with an anonymous donation of land valued at $2.5 million.

“The gift of land valued at $2.5 million would provide scholarships for students who have interests in English and agriculture. ‘The donor, who was born and raised in western Kansas, has multiple degrees from FHSU and has been a consistent supporter of scholarships here through the years,'” said Tim Chapman, president and CEO of the FHSU foundation.

“I have always believed in education. We have a great university here in western Kansas that we need to support,” the donor said, through Chapman.

“Today’s announcement of the $2.5 million gift takes our campaign total to $6.7 million, which is 80 percent of the $8 million goal,” FHSU president Edward Hammond said during a news conference on the FHSU campus. “Leading Fort Hays State University has been the most challenging and rewarding work of my career. I hope many more of you will step up to the plate and make a donation that will help our students realize their dream of a college degree. Your gift can help them graduate with little or no debt and become full participants in the economic life of their community immediately as they begin their careers.”

While the Foundation likes to showcase donors, anonymity, such as in this case, is also granted upon request.

“The Foundation is extremely thankful for all of the donors who realize the importance of private support,” Chapman said.

The Power of One Scholarship Campaign kicked off last December with a goal of raising $8 million within a year.

“This one-year effort is unique, the goal is aggressive and the outcome, when successful, will be a springboard for students of today and tomorrow by giving them scholarship support,” Chapman said. “It is also a way for all of us to recognize the 27-year tenure of Dr. Hammond as the president of this institution. What a great legacy for all of us and for Dr. Hammond to know we are continuing to change lives through this campaign.”

“This gift will mean so much to our students,” said Pauline Scott, chair of the department of english. “Many of the English Department students take on part and full-time jobs in order to finance their college education, making it difficult for them to excel in their classes and maintain a full course load. Because of this gift, our students will be able to more fully dedicate themselves to their education.”

“Additionally,” Scott said, “the gift will make it possible, for the first time ever, for the department to award scholarships to summer graduate students, many of whom are full-time teachers with families.”

“Contributions to the university that provide students with access to scholarship dollars are extremely beneficial. We greatly appreciate the donor’s investment in our students and in our department,” said John Greathouse, chair of the department of agriculture.

“In the end, I just wanted to do something good,” the donor said through the FHSU release.

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