Nichols College Completes Historic Bicentennial Fundraising Campaign
DUDLEY, Mass. – Nichols College completed its bicentennial campaign, Securing a Legacy of Leadership, raising more than $66 million to support capital projects, endowment, and brand-elevating curricular and co-curricular initiatives.
“The Bicentennial Campaign has left an indelible mark on the Nichols experience, from state-of-the-art facilities to critical scholarship aid to new programs that solidify the college’s position as a leader in business and professional education,” says Nichols College President Susan West Engelkemeyer, Ph.D. “It’s a proud achievement for Nichols, to be shared by our donors and the students who benefit most from their generous investment.”
The campaign was publicly launched in 2015 with a $45 million goal, which was surpassed with $46.1 million in 2017. It was then extended by an additional $20 million and was recently completed with a total of $66.1 million. It represented the largest campaign in the institution’s 200-year history – the initial goal of $45 million was more than triple the college’s previous campaign.
Under the leadership of President Engelkemeyer and Campaign Co-chairs John Davis, chair of the Nichols College Board of Trustees, and Gerald Fels, trustee emeritus, the campaign funded the Fels Student Center, a new academic building, and major renovations and upgrades to athletic facilities and the Lombard Dining Hall. The number of endowed scholarships rose from 21 to 83. The college added new academic specializations, experiential learning programs such as the Nichols Consulting Group and the Center for Intelligent Process Automation, and co-curricular initiatives such as the Institute for Women’s Leadership and the Emerging Leaders Program.
“The Bicentennial Campaign has shown what we can achieve with visionary leadership, an engaged community, and a compelling case for support,” says Co-chair John Davis. “By preparing Nichols for the next stage in its evolution, it has funded a wealth of resources to prepare our students for theirs – modern facilities, life-changing scholarships, distinctive learning experiences, and purposeful leadership development.”
Co-chair Gerald Fels adds, “The campaign’s impact on the future of Nichols cannot be overstated. The celebration of our bicentennial was a turning point, and the campaign allowed us to aspire to that next milestone – a third century of educating leaders.”
The campaign inspired an unprecedented level of giving among alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and students, drawing more than 20 gifts over $1 million, including four gifts of $5 million, and more than $8 million in deferred gift commitments to help secure the college’s future, reports Bill Pieczynski, vice president of advancement at Nichols. “Through their generous contributions, our donors have demonstrated their commitment to our mission and endorsed our vision of Nichols as a college of choice for business and leadership education,” he adds.
About Nichols College
Within a supportive community, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education.
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