On Thursday, April 19, UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III announced the launch of the largest capital campaign in the institution’s history. Titled “Advancing Excellence: The Campaign for the University of Missouri-Rolla,” the goal is to raise $200 million by June 2010 to achieve the university’s vision of becoming a top five technological research university. To date, the effort has raised more than $115 million for UMR students, programs, faculty and facilities.

“As we embark on the public phase of the Advancing Excellence Campaign, we’re also redefining ourselves – by taking on a name that better fits our identity as a leading technological research university,” Carney declared, standing in Leach Theatre of Castleman Hall, surrounded by displays illustrating how UMR students, alumni and faculty have made their mark on the university. “Both the new name [Missouri University of Science and Technology] and the capital campaign are critical to our vision of becoming one of the nation’s top five technological research universities.

“Without a doubt, one of our greatest strengths as a university is the loyalty our alumni and friends have shown for us throughout the years,” he continued. “That commitment is evident in the fact that nearly 20 percent of our alumni donate annually to the university.”

Gary Forsee, CE’72, Advancing Excellence National Campaign Chair and CEO of Sprint Nextel Corp., joined the chancellor to announce the public launch and provided a brief overview of the campaign’s goals.

“Our alumni have become great leaders in business, in science and engineering, in the public sector, in education,” Forsee stated. “If we are to continue this tradition of excellence, we must invest in the future.”

More than 400 alumni and members of the UMR campus community were on hand to kick off the campaign’s public phase, including campaign tri-chair Gary Havener, Math’62.