• Goal for facilities: $37 million
• Amount raised: $15.6 million

Since the “quiet” phase of the Advancing Excellence Campaign began in 2003, UMR has received one of the largest gifts in its history: $5 million for the renovation and expansion of the mechanical and aerospace engineering complex, Toomey Hall, from John, ME’49, MS ME’51, and Mary Toomey and their family, replacing a building built on the UMR campus before the Wright brothers flew.

One of the main goals of the overall campaign is to raise a total of $37 million for facilities, including athletic and student design facilities. In addition to buildings, the money will be invested in laboratories and much-needed equipment.

Last year, Robert Brackbill, MinE’42, and family members decided to give a boost to the petroleum engineering program at UMR by donating funds to establish a technology classroom equipped with laptops, a document camera and “smart” systems.