Glancing at each other and giggling, five Augustana College students suddenly began peeling off their shirts and jackets during a crowded news conference Thursday, uncovering the backs of bright yellow T-shirts worn underneath.
Then, in dramatic fashion, college President Steven Bahls asked them to step forward and turn around.
Standing with linked arms and big smiles, the students each wore a different symbol or number on the fronts of their shirts, showing off the record-breaking grand total of the college’s “Authentically Augustana: A Call to Action” campaign: $152 million.
The campaign ended this week, far surpassing its goal of $100 million.
“Isn’t it nice to raise $152 million to commemorate 152 years of Augustana College?” Bahls told the crowd gathered inside Emmy Carlsson Evald Hall, a former residence hall renovated into offices with funds raised through the campaign. “It’s easy to raise money for Augustana when the purpose of the money is to benefit students.”
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Fundraising began in May 2008 during the worst recession since the Great Depression, but the $152 million raised included $97 million in outright cash donations. An additional $31 million came from Quad-City corporations and individuals, Bahls said.
He added that it cost Augustana about 8 or 9 cents per dollar raised to reach that goal.
During the campaign, the college added 10 new majors, including Africana studies, anthropology, applied mathematics, creative writing, engineering physics, environmental studies, graphic design, international business, multimedia journalism and mass communication and neuroscience.
Money raised from the campaign allowed the college to hire 28 new faculty members and add another 57 endowed scholarships, pushing the total to 649.
Bahls also spoke about the “Augie Choice” program, which gives each student $2,000 to pursue a hands-on learning experience such as a faculty-led research project, internship or study-abroad opportunity.
The campaign also is responsible for adding new facilities on campus, including the Duane R. Swanson Commons residence complex, the Dorothy Parkander Residence Center and the new home of Augustana’s soccer and lacrosse programs, Thorson-Lucken Field.
It also funded the renovations at Old Main, an architectural icon on campus, and the soon-to-come addition of a $20 million Center for Student Life, which will allow the merging of library, dining services and student activities into one building, among other projects.
Lynn Jackson, vice president of advancement at Augustana, said the donations spanned from a few dollars to literally millions, and “each donation, every single dollar, is very much appreciated.”
Bahls and others who spoke said over and over that the reason for all the fundraising comes down to one thing: the students.
One of those affected by the campaign is Alannah Golden, a junior at Augustana, who said she grew up about a mile away from campus. But her college journey was possible only because of “the generosity of donors” such as those who donated toward the capital campaign.
Sitting next to her was Bud Helpenstell, 78, a Rock Island native, chairman of A.D. Huesing Corp. and former Augustana Board of Trustees member, whose donations to the school created a scholarship that has allowed Golden to attend Augustana. She thanked him for his gift, which is enabling her to earn a teaching degree.
“It’s very rewarding to give, especially to a student of that caliber,” Helpenstell said. “I’m so proud and pleased that we could help her along the way.”
