The endowment program challenged Indiana colleges and universities to raise $3 million from alumni, $250,000 from parents, family members and students, and $250,000 from faculty and staff.  The funds had to e received during a period that began June 1, 2002, and ended Dec. 31, 2003.  Rose-Hulman exceeded each of the goals and raised $9,915,279 during the period. Gifts from 4,815 alumni amounted to $9,081,463 of the total.

The Lilly Endowment matching funds have been used to improve academic facilities, endow scholarships, purchase laboratory equipment, support new academic awards and a lecture series, according to Mark Richter, vice president for development external affairs.  About $1.6 million of the endowment match was used to remodel the Moench Hall auditorium into new classrooms, labs and faculty offices for the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

“The initiative created a significant increase in gifts to Rose-Hulman during the 19-month period that donations were matched by the endowment,” stated Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert.  “Exceeding the goals of the challenge program is another indication of the tremendous loyalty and pride that Rose-Hulman alumni, employees, students and the families of our students have in this college,” Hulbert noted.

“Support from the Lilly Endowment continued to be one of the key factors that has led to Rose-Hulman becoming a national leader in undergraduate engineering, mathematics and science education.  The latest challenge initiative is another example of the endowment’s leadership and commitment to helping Rose-Hulman and other Indiana colleges and universities offer the very best education possible,” he said.