PSU receives $10 million gift

Pittsburg State University celebrated a “historic” day Tuesday as the university received a $10 million gift from anonymous donors, specifically earmarked for a new fine and performing arts center.
The day was historic, not just for the size of the gift, which was the largest single gift in PSU history, but also because the building would fill a campus need that has existed since old Carney Hall was razed nearly 30 years ago because of safety concerns.
“Honestly, when they were talking about it, I had tears in my eyes,” said Craig Fuchs, chairman of PSU’s music department. “It would be of huge importance to everything we do. What a great day.”
PSU President Tom Bryant said there were dates through any university’s history that stand out in terms of historical significance, and added that Tuesday was one of those days. The size of the gift was unprecedented — university officials believed it might have also been the biggest gift in MIAA history — but PSU will still have a way to go to drum up the money for the facility. Bryant estimated the facility’s cost at “at least $25 million.”
“The total cost of this project could exceed $30 million,” said Brad Hodson, vice president for university advancement. “That’s a high hurdle to clear with small gifts alone. Large single gifts not only move a project along more quickly, they also inspire others to join in a very worthwhile project.”
Bryant said he also expects the university to use the donation as leverage to seek funds from art and music-based foundations for the facility, designated for placement at Ford and Homer streets.
The donation also pushes PSU’s fundraising drive to $95 million, close to its $120 million goal. There were several projects aimed at through that 10-year drive, said Scott Roberts, director of university development, including the fine and performing arts center. He said other projects on that list included the Tyler Polymer Research Center, the recently completed armory/student recreation center, a student health center, a new school of business and a diesel and heavy equipment facility.
“And that’s not including the scholarships or faculty fellowships this will help with,” Roberts said.
Bryant described the donors as “a friend to PSU and the community, someone who cares about students and someone with a history of philanthropy.”
“Big dreams depend on people with vision,” Bryant said. “This donor has chosen to invest not only in Pittsburg State University and many generations of students still to come, but also in the cultural life of the community.”
The old facility, Carney Hall, was named for Thomas Carney, the second governor of Kansas, under whom the state’s system of higher education was established. The building, constructed in 1919, included a 3,000-seat auditorium that was the central hub of the university. It was knocked down in 1980 because of concerns about the settling of the building’s foundation.
That’s shouldn’t be an issue this time around. Also as part of the ceremony, PSU showed off a sparkling artist’s rendering that Bryant said would represent PSU’s “hopes and dreams” for the project. There have been no formal plans drawn.
Lynette Olson, dean of the school of arts and sciences, said the building would serve up everything from symphony and jazz to dramatic performances. She said it would step up PSU’s presence as a “cultural center” as well.
Gene Bicknell, honorary national chairman of the university’s $120 million capital campaign, said he remembered when he thought “someday, we’ll be able to raise $40,000 per year.”
The fine and performing arts center remained as the biggest project in the 10-year campaign to raise 3,000 times that amount.
“The Kansas Polymer Research Center was completed last year and the student recreation center/armory has just been completed. This fall, the university will break ground on a new student health center,” Bicknell said. “Now, our focus is on the fine and performing arts center and a building for the college of business. Bit by bit, this campaign is shaping the future of the university.”