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Forever Forward Campaign Success
by Jen Wingerter ’13 and Pasha Yates ’15
14 semesters, 28 seasons of change, 2,255 days, and millions of hours of work all add up to a promise kept.
Quincy University is celebrating the conclusion of the Forever Forward campaign – the largest and most successful comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University’s nearly 160-year history. The Campaign raised $25,532,172, exceeding its goal of $25 million. The 7-year run brought the renovation of spaces designed to enhance learning, add beauty and accommodate growth.
To our donors, alumni, and friends, thank you for your incredible generosity. To our volunteers, thank you for your loyal service and exemplary leadership. To our faculty, staff, and academic leaders, thank you for the dreams you shared and the plans you made to accomplish them. And to our students, thank you for being our inspiration.
SCIENCE CENTER
In response to a nationwide resurgence of interest in science and technology fields, Quincy University’s goal is to rejuvenate the Center for Science. The University has completed renovations to teaching laboratories and student study space. Future projects include equipping classrooms with the latest technology, upgrading a computer lab at North Campus, renovating the cadaver lab, and relocating faculty offices.
LEGENDS STADIUM
Early in the Campaign, a dedicated group of former players and friends raised more than $800,000 to build Legends Stadium.The stadium was completed in 2013 and includes a turf field, locker rooms for the soccer teams, a press box, restrooms, a concession stand and bleachers for the fans. Legends Stadium houses Jack Mackenzie Field, dedicated to the late Jack Mackenzie in September 2013. Mackenzie was the head coach of men’s soccer from 1969-2011.
QU STADIUM
Quincy University renovated QU stadium in 2014 adding Shaw Sports Turf synthetic surfaces on the football and baseball fields, new grandstands that include 250 chairback seats, a 14-by-48-foot video board with a separate scoreboard on top overlooking both fields, concession and ticketing stands, a team store, and a 4-story press box with 5 luxury suites. These renovations also allow the introduction of Lacrosse as two new varsity sports at QU. Future projects include building locker rooms, a training facilitie and parking lot, and the creation of an endowment for the maintenance of the synthetic turf fields.
BRENNER LIBRARY
Quincy University unveiled the J. Kenneth Nesbit Student Success Center at a ceremony in August 2017. The technology-enriched Student Success Center houses the Office of Student Development and the QUEST Center. Future upgrades to Brenner Library include a complete remodel of the main and second floor, new furniture, adding individual and group study spaces on the main and second floor, and the expansion of the Gray Gallery.
CHAPEL
The project was kicked off in 2013 with a Chapel Benefit auction. With the funds raised, the exterior work on the St. Francis Solanus Chapel was completed. The renovations included a new roof and a new heat and air system. Future projects include stained glass window repairs, interior preservation, organ restoration, and a new sound system.
MUSIC AND COMMUNICATION
The Connie Niemann Center for Music was dedicated in February 2013. It provides a beautiful place for QU ensembles and choirs to perform. In addition, Quincy University completed the construction of a piano lab and music theory classroom. In 2017, the Quincy Media Inc. Television Broadcast Studio was completed. Students can now experience an all-digital interactive television studio. Future plans are to relocate the Communication Department from Francis Hall to North Campus as well as move music faculty offices to the Center. Future renovations will include the addition of an interactive media lab, a MIDI lab, recording studio, Soundproof practice rooms, and a podcast studio.
ENDOWMENT
Growing the endowment continues to be an important goal to Quincy University’s sustainability.
A healthy endowment protects the long-term health and strength of the University. A gift to the endowment benefits students today and into perpetuity.
