Oral Moses Endowed Scholarship…2013 President's Award…Zuckerman Gift…Giving Milestones

 

Oral Moses, Professor Emeritus of Voice and Music Literature, generously established the Dr. Oral L. Moses Endowed Scholarship on May 2, 2013, which will benefit students in the College of the Arts who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in voice performance.  Recipients of this merit-based scholarship must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and can renew the scholarship for up to four years.

 

A South Carolina native, Moses began his singing career as a member of the U.S. Seventh Army Soldier’s Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany and as a member of the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers while attending Fisk University following his military career.  As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, he studied in Germany and Austria, and upon his return to the United States he earned a Masters of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Vocal Performance and Opera from the University of Michigan.   Moses was a scholarship recipient himself throughout his academic career from his undergraduate degree to his Ph.D.

 

Moses has been part of the Kennesaw State University voice faculty since 1984 and resides in Smyrna.

 

 

Sue and Millard Choate, longtime supporters of Kennesaw State University, were honored on Tuesday, May 7 at the 2013 President’s Dinner for their dedication to KSU and its students.

 

The Choates’ generosity has affected a number of lives at Kennesaw State.  Their longtime commitment to the University has crossed over into many areas, including athletics, the Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery, and the College of the Arts.  Choate Construction, founded in 1989, was an inaugural member of Kennesaw State’s Corporate Partners program and has partnered with Kennesaw State on a number of campus projects. In 2010, Millard established the Susan Choate Scholarship in honor of his wife.  Sue is an active volunteer in the community and exhibits a true passion for the students at Kennesaw State.  Their scholarship offers need-based support to full- and part-time students, graduate or undergraduate, who have maintained jobs while enrolled at KSU.   These funds have provided opportunities to students who may otherwise have been unable to pursue an education.

 

“Our commitment is to students, especially students who have the abilities, but not the financial support to continue their education,” said Mr. Choate.

 

“I love the student body at Kennesaw,” adds Mrs. Choate.  “I love that so many of them work and go to school; they must truly have a love of education. I wouldn’t want anyone to have the desire to go to school and not have the financial ability to do so.”

 

The annual President’s Dinner honors donors who have contributed a minimum of $1,000 over the past year.  Hosted this year at the Cobb Galleria Centre, the event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and award presentation by President Papp.

 

 

The Estate of Bernard Zuckerman recently donated $1 million to the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art at Kennesaw State University. This second half of his initial $2 million pledge will support Phase II of the museum, which will include galleries and support facilities for the growing Permanent Collection of Art.  This collection currently includes nearly 1,000 works of art by artists from Pierre-August Renoir to N.C. Wyeth to Lamar Dodd.

For more information about the museum and its developments, please visit http://www.kennesaw.edu/arts/galleries/.

 

Alumni and Campus Giving Reach Record Milestones

Annual gifts at Kennesaw State University lay the foundation for giving each year and reflect support by the university’s sustaining donors. Of all constituent groups included in the annual giving totals, gifts from alumni and campus members are considered critical for success since these two groups are arguably comprised of the individuals most familiar with the work of the university.  This year giving by both groups reflects record-breaking totals—good news indeed!

Giving by alumni is up an impressive 150%-plus over the previous year, with gifts topping $288,000.  Additionally, campus giving shows an increase in total giving over last year with gifts totaling more than $194,000.  Faculty giving has increased by more than 42% over the previous year and staff giving is up by nearly 6% for the same period.

Kennesaw State alumni now include more than 63,000 graduates.  Giving by this very important group includes an impressive number of first time donors—a strong indicator of growing alumni loyalty.  Each year the number of alumni grows as new graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.  During May, more than 2,500 students will become KSU’s newest alumni with graduates during the Summer and Fall Commencements expected to increase the number by another 2,500+. 

Campus constituents include all 927 full time faculty and full time staff numbers exceeding 1,524.  Both groups also include a number of adjunct and part time employees.  

Giving by these two important constituent groups are critical factors as the university seeks funding from corporate citizens, as well as local and national foundations.  Funding sources are more likely to favorably review a request for private dollars when the potential donors who are closest to the university have responded generously.  

Kennesaw State is grateful for this demonstration of commitment and dedication that provides a margin of excellence for current students and for those who will study here in the future.