You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

St. Olaf College capital campaign reaches $100 million; largest amount raised by Lutheran college

####
November 29, 2000

NORTHFIELD, Minn. ? In the most ambitious fund-raising effort in its 125-year history, St. Olaf College has reached the $100-million benchmark in its Fram! Fram! Forward St. Olaf capital campaign. It is the largest amount ever raised by a Lutheran college ? 80 percent of the $125-million goal. The milestone was reached one year after the campaign was announced.

The success of Fram! Fram! Forward St. Olaf is due in large part to the outstanding volunteer efforts of scores of St. Olaf alumni, parents and students, according to St. Olaf Vice President for Advancement Gordon D. Soenksen. "We are very thankful for the efforts of our volunteers, faculty and staff who have worked so hard to make this possible," he said. "We are also grateful for the wonderful generosity of all who have graciously contributed to the campaign to make the $100-million milestone a reality."

Soenksen gave special credit to the volunteer leaders of the campaign, cabinet co-chairs Truxtun and Adrienne Morrison of Wayzata, Minn., and Jerrol and Alleen Tostrud of Sunfish Lake, Minn. "This campaign is special because we have so many families involved as volunteers raising funds," Soenksen said. The Morrisons and Tostruds became involved in the campaign for different reasons. The Morrisons are the parents of two Ole graduates and the Tostruds are alumni whose three children also attended St. Olaf.

Adrienne Morrison said, "We fell in love with St. Olaf through the eyes of our children. The college did a wonderful job of continuing the values we tried to give them. From the very first, we never left the campus without feeling enriched and fulfilled."

The Tostruds felt so deeply about their experience that they issued a $1.45 million Challenge to their fellow alumni, because they recognized that strong alumni support is critical to the long-term health and vitality of the college. Alleen commented, "We have been truly blessed to be part of the St. Olaf family. Without the generosity of others, neither Jerry nor I would have attended St. Olaf. We see this as our opportunity to give back to an institution that has meant so much to us and our family."

The campaign?s lead gift was given by St. Olaf alumnus Dean and Rosemarie Buntrock, alumnus Clayton Buntrock and other members of the Buntrock family. Their $26 million gift ? the largest single donation ever made to St. Olaf ? funded the 175,000-square-foot Buntrock Commons, a state-of-the-art student union that opened on the St. Olaf campus last year.

Inevitably, the campaign will provide the resources necessary to enhance the college?s fundamental strengths long into this century. Nationally distinguished and internationally focused, St. Olaf educates students who will be among the next generation of servant-leaders.

Interim President Martin E. Marty said, "St. Olaf College has always aspired to reach beyond the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary. The campaign will provide resources to enhance the college?s strengths as a superb residential liberal arts college, as a teacher of sound values and as an academic leader. We are extremely confident that we will surpass our $125-million goal."

The campaign will allocate $74 million to endowment, $34.5 million to capital improvements and $16.5 million to annual operations. Those who wish to learn more about the St. Olaf campaign may visit the St. Olaf website at www.stolaf.edu.

St. Olaf College prepares students to become responsible citizens of the world, fostering development of mind, body and spirit. A four-year, coeducational liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), St. Olaf has a student enrollment of 2,950 and a full-time faculty of approximately 250. It is one of Money Guide?s top 100 "elite values in college education today," and it leads the nation?s colleges in percentage of students who study abroad.

Contact Michael Cooper at 507-786-3315 or cooperm@stolaf.edu.