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MSU FOUNDATION notes LOYALTY. Loyalty. Pride. Passion. All of us who bleed maroon share a common bond and typically one or more of these valued qualities. As the MSU Foundation embarked on a new fiscal year of giving, we have chosen a banner, PRIDE. if you will, of loyalty, pride and passion. The slogan is appropriate, but not completely original. We “borrowed” it from W. Carroll and Georgia Ann Murphy of Starkville. For a 2008 issue of PASSION. Alumnus magazine, they were asked why they have given to MSU for nearly 30 years. Carroll resoundingly responded it was all about loyalty, pride and passion. His simple explanation prompted us to carry his banner as we work to secure resources for a growing university. Mississippi State has been a part of the Murphy family’s budget each year, Georgia explained, because they were always assured a good return on the investment. In fact, a “return on investment” is something we strive to provide each of our donors. We strongly feel that the investment in the lives of our students is vital to the future of our university, as well as to our state, region and nation. Your gifts provide scholarships and resources that are needed now more than any other time in our history. With the looming downturn in state appropriations, we are again looking to our alumni and friends to assist in providing much needed support for students and faculty through a specialized initiative known as StatePride. Our faculty and staff are working diligently to not only provide a quality education, but to also instill the qualities of loyalty, pride and passion in our students. It is our desire that these characteristics will develop and become enhanced throughout their careers. New graduates may be particularly interested in a little advice Carroll was willing to share. He said, “The quality and cost of the education you received at MSU were higher and lower respectively than they otherwise would have been because those who preceded you made contributions. Return the favor to those who follow you by giving back to MSU during your lifetime.” With Forbes magazine recently ranking MSU as a Top 20 Best College Buy for quality for each tuition dollar spent, I believe Carroll’s words are very compelling during these challenging times. I hope you’ll take a moment to “meet” the Murphys on page 20 of this newsletter. They, and others like them,With have thealways new been 2008 the heart MSU and hanging soul of wall MSU, and the reason wecalendar, believe a new you’ll initiative feel will like prove you’re successful on the for Mississippi our university. State campus every day. Enjoy beautiful pictures of familiar places and campus scenes that bring back special memories of time spent at State. The official MSU calendar has become a Bulldog tradition. With pictures taken by MSU’s own award-winning photog- John Rush raphers, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind treasure. To get yours VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENTtoday, AND contact ALUMNI the MSU Foundation at 1-877-MSSTATE or visit www.msufoundation.com. MSU FOUNDATION contents MSU unveils StatePride: An Initiative for Student and Faculty Support 2 New initiative will target scholarships and faculty support to grow enrollment A landmark gift: Riley Foundation supports MSU-Meridian two-fold 6 Gift from Meridian foundation will expand MSU-Meridian, provide scholarships A success story: MSU scholarship just the prescription for an aspiring physician 8 Scholarship opportunity puts Jeremy Wigginton on a path toward life’s ambition Blueprint for the future: University seeks funds for several vital facilities 10 Lead gift moves new basketball facility forward; funds needed for other construction projects MSU marks third highest giving year in school history 15 Private gifts and pledges tally more than $61 million for fiscal year 2009 MSU students selected first Tillman Military Scholars 16 Foundation of deceased military veteran names students part of inaugural group of recipients Generous gift grows Radványi Chair, paves way for additional contributions 17 Jackson couple challenges others to support position in international security and strategic studies Foundation welcomes fundraiser, selects another for extensive role 18 Fundraisers fill key roles for growing university efforts to secure gifts from private sources DEPARTMENTS Foundation Notes: Development and Alumni inside front Foundation Notes: Major Gifts 19 Donor Profile 20 Board of Directors inside back The Mississippi State University Foundation is a nonprofit corporation organized to foster, encourage, and promote the educational purposes of the university. In providing its support and services through the pursuit of endowments and other gifts, as well as asset management, the foundation enriches and enhances the academic quality and reputation of Mississippi State University. Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status is a violation of federal and state law and MSU policy and will not be tolerated. Discrimination based upon sexual orientation or group affiliation is a violation of MSU policy and will not be tolerated. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 1 Mississippi State University has been Mississippi State has a strategic goal to grow the door to opportunity for thousands of its current enrollment of 18,600 students to more than 22,000 by 2015. Reaching this goal will young people from all walks of life for require additional private funding for student more than 130 years. The institution scholarships and faculty support. remains steeped in tradition with a “The success of this effort will depend on clear vision for the future. As part of the continued foresight and generosity of MSU its strategic goals, a bold new initiative alumni and friends, and their confidence in the ability of our university to meet the needs of our known as StatePride will allow state. We have no doubt that they will rise to the Mississippi State to keep pace with challenge and we will spare no effort to justify the changing needs of its people. their trust,” Keenum said. Recently, the university was named by Forbes magazine as a top 20 best college buy on a list of StatePride is an endeavor to secure private 100 best educational buys in America. In fact, MSU funds for the people who are the core of the was Mississippi’s only public university included in institution—the students and faculty of Mississippi that distinction and the only institution of higher State. The initiative was announced as part of the learning in the state to rank in the top 20 percent. official investiture ceremonies in October for Private funds raised by StatePride will provide MSU’s 19th president, Dr. Mark E. Keenum. a steady stream of annual support for Mississippi Since assuming the leadership of MSU in State. The initiative will allow the university to January, Keenum, along with other university award need-based scholarships for deserving leaders, has addressed ways to grow the university students and academic scholarships to compete over time and combat lean years of state support. for the best and brightest students. It also will A mechanism for this strategy is StatePride, a include support to recruit and retain superior four-year fundraising initiative that seeks $100 faculty members and increase faculty research and million in gifts and pledges. The initiative began development opportunities in all areas of study. in January, and has subsequently raised nearly $20 million toward its goal. “The StatePride initiative will help Mississippi why scholarships ? State continue a pattern of growth and excellence in the areas of learning, research and service,” Many students have the desire, but not the Keenum said. “Our hope is to provide a quality means, to achieve their goals of a college degree. and affordable education for as many students as According to the National Center for Children in possible, and employ expert faculty in every Poverty, only 19 percent of adults in Mississippi academic unit.” have a bachelor’s degree. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 2 Scholarship support is needed in the form of ABOVE: MSU’s newest class of Distinguished annual gifts and endowments to ensure Scholars share their excitement for the StatePride initiative which will focus on scholarships to Mississippi State has the means to assist as many benefit more students and funds for students as possible. Gifts may support general exceptional faculty. They flank their mentor, university scholarships, or they may be designated John F. Marszalek, and MSU President Mark E. for a specific college, school or department the Keenum. Scholars include (left to right, front row): Kelsey LeSaicherre, Tommy Kirkpatrick donor chooses, with a primary focus on recruitment and Lindsay Linhares. Back row is Ryan Hoke, of new students in all areas. Shelby Balius and Bailey Hansen. StatePride will emphasize three annual scholarships to help recruit new students to the university. Legacy Scholarships will compete for the best and brightest academic students. These intervention strategies to keep these students scholarships are meant to attract entering full-time focused on their studies and enrolled in the freshmen who possess high ACT scores and meet university. other academic benchmarks. Loyalty Scholarships will provide financial awards on the basis of merit. Students must have why faculty support ? academic achievement as well as community leadership skills. These scholarships will benefit Scholarships alone cannot move Mississippi entering freshmen and community college transfer State University forward. It also will take students. exceptional educators who want to come to A third opportunity, Promise Awards, benefit Mississippi and be a vital part of the Bulldog Mississippi residents who meet certain academic learning experience. These world-class faculty and other criteria, with a family income of members can create paths of learning for MSU $30,000 and below.

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