CANTON, Mo. — Part of a $1 million gift made to Culver-Stockton College in honor of President Kelly M. Thompson will go toward the construction of an experiential learning facility on campus.
The announcement of the gift from an anonymous donor was made during a press gathering Thursday afternoon in Pepsi Hall at the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center on the Culver-Stockton College campus.
The Center for Experiential Learning will be built as an addition to the south side of the Gladys Crown Student Center. Approximately half of the $1.25 million cost for construction of the center has been raised.
The center will highlight the seven types of experiential learning — creative expression, leadership, simulations, service learning, travel, research and innovation and professional experience — that are the cornerstone of Culver-Stockton’s educational experience. It will provide resources on experiential teaching and learning for faculty and students, and it will provide a showplace for experiential learning achievements.
The center also will be the host of an Experiential Education Academy offered by the National Society for Experiential Education, a national resource center based in Mount Royal, N.J. Seventy-five percent of the Culver-Stockton faculty is certified by the NSEE as of August 2019.
The gift also will enhance two endowments already established at C-SC.
More than 40 percent of students attending Culver-Stockton are first generation students. An endowed scholarship is providing funding for first generation students and is renewable for up to four years, providing the student remains in good academic standing.
The Endowed Culver-Stockton College Fund has been established for the president of Culver-Stockton to distribute at their discretion for financial support for a junior or senior student who can’t continue their academic career at C-SC due to unforeseen financial need (medical, economic or family financial difficulties) or other immediate needs of the college campus.
“I’m deeply honored and so touched being named in this gift,” Thompson said at Thursday’s press gathering. “I’m also very grateful to our donor and my dear friend for this extraordinary contribution to first generation student scholarships as well as scholarships for juniors and seniors. It has been so wonderful to get to know a true philanthropist who has a passion for changing lives through education.
“This donor’s generosity to the Center for Experiential Learning also has encouraged other donors to invest in the center, which will serve students for generations to come.”
Scott Johnson, a member of the Board of Trustees and the chair of the comprehensive campaign, “Culver-Stockton Changing Lives!”, reported Thursday that more than $21 million in cash and pledges has been raised, and more than 40 new documented planned gifts have been received that total nearly $10 million, bringing the total campaign to more than $31 million.
Johnson said more than $5 million has been raised for facilities on campus, more than $4.6 million has been received for the student scholarship fund, more than $2.6 million has been raised to provide additional resources for the education process and more than $8.5 million has been added to the college’s endowment.
Thompson is retiring at the end of the school year after six years as president. A search committee has been established to determine her replacement.
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Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.