Vision & Tradition Campaign Surpasses $900 Million Mark

Written by Robert Giovannetti

Vision & Tradition: The Campaign for Texas Tech has surpassed $900 million as funds are raised toward its $1 billion goal. Already surpassing gifts raised from previous campaigns, the Vision & Tradition capital campaign is easily the most successful and largest fundraising effort in the history of the Texas Tech University System.

"Our alumni and friends have a longstanding history of generosity when it comes to supporting the universities of the Texas Tech University System,” said Kent Hance, chancellor of the system. “This tradition has continued and helped make a tremendous impact during a time when many other institutions’ fundraising efforts have diminished due to the difficult economic times.”

“We are so close to reaching our $1 billion goal,” said Kelly Overley, vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the Texas Tech Foundation Inc. “We are confident we can celebrate its completion before our anticipated deadline.”

The capital campaign, which includes Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Angelo State University, is one of 14 billion-dollar campaigns currently being conducted at higher education institutions in the country. Publically announced in September 2010, the Vision & Tradition capital campaign is scheduled to end in 2013.

“The chancellor and the entire development team have done an outstanding job engaging our donors,” said Ed Whitacre, co-chairman of the campaign. “The success of this campaign is due to the professional staff who work tirelessly to further the Texas Tech University System.”

Some of the areas that are being funded through this capital campaign are student scholarships and fellowships that will reward academic accomplishment and encourage diversity; faculty support through establishing endowments that attract world-class scholars who excel in teaching and research; and facility enhancements by building spaces where students and faculty can learn, discover and compete.

Facilities such as the Jones AT&T Stadium, Jerry S. Rawls College of Business, The Commons by United Supermarkets at the new residential hall off Boston Avenue, and the new clinical simulation center in Odessa are a few examples where the component institutions are already benefiting from the capital campaign.

“We are less than $100 million away from the most ambitious campaign in our history,” said Hance. “We hope our donors will continue to come together to make this dream a reality.”