The announcement of the gift from an anonymous donor was made during a press gathering Thursday afternoon in Pepsi Hall at the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center on the 乱伦社区 campus.

The Center for Experiential Learning will be built as an addition to the south side of the Gladys Crown Student Center. Approximately half of the $1.25 million cost for construction of the center has been raised.

The center will highlight the seven types of experiential learning 鈥� creative expression, leadership, simulations, service learning, travel, research and innovation and professional experience 鈥� that are the cornerstone of Culver-Stockton鈥檚 educational experience. It will provide resources on experiential teaching and learning for faculty and students, and it will provide a showplace for experiential learning achievements.

The center also will be the host of an Experiential Education Academy offered by the National Society for Experiential Education, a national resource center based in Mount Royal, N.J. Seventy-five percent of the Culver-Stockton faculty is certified by the NSEE as of August 2019.

The gift also will enhance two endowments already established at C-SC.

More than 40 percent of students attending Culver-Stockton are first generation students. An endowed scholarship is providing funding for first generation students and is renewable for up to four years, providing the student remains in good academic standing.

The Endowed 乱伦社区 Fund has been established for the president of Culver-Stockton to distribute at their discretion for financial support for a junior or senior student who can鈥檛 continue their academic career at C-SC due to unforeseen financial need (medical, economic or family financial difficulties) or other immediate needs of the college campus.

鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honored and so touched being named in this gift,鈥� Thompson said at Thursday鈥檚 press gathering. 鈥淚鈥檓 also very grateful to our donor and my dear friend for this extraordinary contribution to first generation student scholarships as well as scholarships for juniors and seniors. It has been so wonderful to get to know a true philanthropist who has a passion for changing lives through education.

鈥淭his donor鈥檚 generosity to the Center for Experiential Learning also has encouraged other donors to invest in the center, which will serve students for generations to come.鈥�

Scott Johnson, a member of the Board of Trustees and the chair of the comprehensive campaign, 鈥淐ulver-Stockton Changing Lives!鈥�, reported Thursday that more than $21 million in cash and pledges has been raised, and more than 40 new documented planned gifts have been received that total nearly $10 million, bringing the total campaign to more than $31 million.

Johnson said more than $5 million has been raised for facilities on campus, more than $4.6 million has been received for the student scholarship fund, more than $2.6 million has been raised to provide additional resources for the education process and more than $8.5 million has been added to the college鈥檚 endowment.

Thompson is retiring at the end of the school year after six years as president. A search committee has been established to determine her replacement.

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As part of its Higher Learning Commission accreditation, Culver-Stockton is completing a quality initiative that includes establishing a center for experiential learning, creating and implementing an assessment of experiential education, and training faculty through an Experiential Education Academy offered by the NSEE,聽a national resource center based in Mount Royal, N.J., that assists with the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide.

The academy consists of six courses: Fundamentals of Experiential Education, Principles of Ethical Practice, Reflection, Assessment, Legal Issues聽and Service Learning.

C-SC faculty members who earned certification were:

Kanwal Alvarez, assistant professor of biology;
Fred Berger, senior lecturer in communication;
Seth Campbell, assistant professor of theatre;
Megan Catalano, director of residence life;
Kay Dyer, lecturer in foreign languages;
Tammy Ellison, director and lecturer in instructional technology and design;
Joni Fusselman, lecturer in education;
Robin Jarvis, director of career and internship services;
Kendall Kirkham, coordinator of student success and lecturer in developmental education;
Angel Knoverek, assistant professor of psychology;
Matthew Osborn, senior lecturer in business;
Sarah Reardon, lecturer in biology;
John Reinhardt, lecturer in accounting;
Esa Seegulam, associate professor of biology;
Joe Skertich, assistant professor of music;
Kelli Stiles, assistant professor of psychology;
Brian Walker, lecturer in physical education.

Seventy-five percent of the Culver-Stockton faculty is certified by the NSEE as of August 2019, with plans to have 100 percent of the faculty certified.

PHOTO CAPTION: Front row from left: Megan Catalano, Sarah Reardon, Deb Myers, Robin Jarvis, Joni Fusselman, Kelli Stiles, Tammy Ellison, Seth Campbell, Kanwal Alvarez. Back row from left: Esa Seegulam, Kay Dyer, Joe Skertich, John Reinhardt, Angel Knoverek, Brian Walker, Matthew Osborn, Fred Berger. Not Pictured: Kendall Kirkham.

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