As one of the top STEM schools in the nation, March 14 – Pi Day – has always held special meaning on the Rose-Hulman campus.

This year, it was extra special as it also served for the first time as the date for Rose-Hulman’s Giving Day.

Building off the “Together, we are limitless” theme, alumni, friends and supporters of the institute delivered, contributing a record $508,607 to meeting the institute’s greatest needs, including scholarships, academic programs, clubs, teams and more. The total raised surpassed previous record of $491,180 set in 2022. A total of 590 individual gifts were contributed this year.

“Thanks to the generous support of the Rose-Hulman community, they have proved once again that our potential is limitless,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to Rose Giving Day. The commitment of our supporters truly makes a significant positive impact for our students and campus community, and helps us continue to provide the best undergraduate STEM education in the nation.”

Several donors helped spur the giving with matching gift challenges. Those included significant gifts from Jane and Dave (Class of 1980) Hummel and Katherine and Jim (’80) Umpleby in supporting the Rose Prime program that provides opportunities for select students to get an early start on their college experience with pre-orientation math instruction and support services designed to help them successfully transition into college.

Ray Lepp, a 1963 alumnus, offered a generous matching gift to support the Rose-Hulman Rocketry Club. Frank Huff (’60) contributed a matching gift to support Rose-Hulman’s greatest needs, while Becky (’05) and Frank (’03) Levinson donated towards Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Analysis and Design curriculum, and Lyle Carlson (’91) donated to developing Cybersecurity initiatives. Dana (’06) and Jon Pierson contributed a gift in support of athletics, while the President and his Cabinet also supported the day with matching gifts.

“This year’s theme was ‘Together, we are limitless,’ and was inspiration for a day in which we came together and explored the possibilities for the future,” said Steve Brady, vice president for institutional advancement. “Our supporters once again proved that the sky is not the limit for their generosity.”

This was Rose-Hulman’s fourth Giving Day event, with each year surpassing the previous in total donations. The 2021 event brought in $331,900 through 533 individual gifts, while 2020 raised $320,590 from 450 gifts.