By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post
On Wednesday morning, Fort Hays State University and the FHSU Foundation announced the launch of the Journey Campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the university.
“This is why we are here today, to safeguard our futures and our university,” FHSU President Dr. Mirta Martin said.
The Journey Campaign is a five-year comprehensive campaign and is the most aggressive fundraiser in the history of FHSU. The campaign has set a goal of $100 million dollars.
“This is unprecedented, never one that large, but we will get there,” Steve Shields, co-chair of the campaign said.
The campaign is being chaired by three individuals all whom have Fort Hays ties, former students Tyler and Jessica Thompson and Shields
Times are changing, said Shields, as he spoke at a packed Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
“The reason why this journey campaign is so important … is because times are changing quickly and not every university is clearly of understanding how they need to rethink, who, what, how, where, we are and what we do and how we do it,” Shields said. “I think Fort Hays State University — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — this place was always steeped in relationships.”
The changes are already starting to be noticed. Recently, Fort Hays was announced as the third largest university in the state of Kansas with a record enrollment. That is because the university has a value based on belief in people and connectedness to people, according to Shields.
“We have diversified, we’re not afraid of new, we’re not afraid of failure, we’re not afraid of innovation, and we are not afraid of creating,” he said. “We’re a nimble university”
The campaign is built around four pillars: scholarships, student life, programs of distinction and athletics.
“It is with my hope that, with these pillars, we can bring attention and funding to every college, every program, every faculty and staff member, and most importantly every student,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation.
The money raised is to be disbursed through the different pillars. Currently, $45 million is set to go to scholarships, $39 million is for programs in the academic colleges, and athletics and student life each would get $8 million.
Martin, who had just got off a plane after arriving back from China, spoke on how every little amount of money donated helps.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are giving a dollar, $10,000, $1 million or $100 million,” Martin said. “Each give counts.”
She said each gift signifies that you are solidly and confidently behind Fort Hays State and in support of the most precious assets, which are the students.
FHSU student body President Emily Brandt and Vice President Vivian Agnew are both recipients of student scholarship dollars and said private funding goes a long way to help out students.
“We understand the value that these gifts have not only on our time here at Fort Hays State, but on the time for all Fort Hays students, Brandt said.
Agnew would add that college is a unique experience that is mobile and adaptable as long as the students have the means.
“Donors make it possible for us to have those means,” Agnew said.
Private support fuels Fort Hays State, Williby said. With private dollars, he said, FHSU can improve and the university can continue to be an exceptional place for the students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“Our university is amazing,” Williby said. “Filled with talented and caring faculty and staff, students with amazing potential on a beautiful and safe campus, and with some of the best facilities in America, but we can be better.”
More information will be released in the coming months as the campaign begins.