Students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at the University of Wisconsin-Superior today (Friday, April 16) to celebrate the successful conclusion of Campaign Superior: Higher Expectations and its impact on student success, academic programs and the university campus.

"In terms of student scholarships, support for academic opportunities and support for needed campus buildings, the impact of Campaign Superior is tremendous," Chancellor Julius Erlenbach said. "From everyone at UW-Superior - particularly the students of past, present and future - I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed."

The University of Wisconsin-Superior Foundation Inc. and UW-Superior launched Campaign Superior in 2004 to raise money over the next five years for scholarships and academic support, expand learning opportunities for students and faculty, and to update or replace critically needed buildings. During that time more than 4,200 donors contributed $16.2 million to UW-Superior, making Campaign Superior the largest and most successful fund-raising effort in university history.

"The results of Campaign Superior are unprecedented in UW-Superior history," said Mark Casper, chairman of the UW-Superior Foundation board of directors. "Donors stepped forward to enable the campaign to achieve all its goals. People gave overwhelmingly to our active teaching and learning initiatives, and the university has two new buildings and a renovated library that were made possible by gifts to the campaign."

Campaign Superior's impact includes:

• More than $3.9 million in scholarships awarded to nearly 2,000 students during the campaign. Many of these students are the first in their families go to college.
  
• Providing the local financial support necessary to win state approval to renovate Jim Dan Hill Library, which reopened in 2009; build the Yellowjacket Union, which opened in 2010; and build Swenson Hall, which will open in 2011.
  
• Bringing together students and faculty for meaningful out-of-classroom opportunities, such as business students preparing an in-depth study of UW-Superior's impact on the community and music students traveling to China to learn and perform.
  
• Providing numerous outside-the-classroom learning opportunities for students, such as attending the presidential inauguration and related educational workshops, learning the legislative process by participating in the Superior Days community lobbying effort, and bringing distinguished speakers to campus.
   
• Offering opportunities for faculty members to expand their knowledge and learn new teaching methods to bring their experience to the classroom.

Erlenbach said donors to Campaign Superior have literally transformed the campus.

"People supported UW-Superior in a way we've never seen before," he said. "Campaign Superior and our donors have played a vital role in helping to literally transform our campus.