and the people who overcome them - McMurry University

DEVELOPMENTCORNERT h i s e d i t i o n of the Chieftain is a very special one.It is special because it includes inspirational stories of thetriumphs of McMurry “family members” over adversity.These individuals have positively influenced manyothers despite the challenges they have had to overcome.“Overcoming Life’s Hurdles” is also an appropriate themefor us as a university. The suddenness of the country’seconomic crisis means that McMurry is facing financialobstacles that have not been experienced for decades.There is a picture in my office. The picture is of a golfcourse hole in Arizona with a green fairway that is narrowand surrounded by huge rock formations. The inscriptionon the picture reads: “Great work is not accomplished bystrength, but through perseverance.”Perseverance is an appropriate word to describethe University’s strategic commitment in the face of tougheconomic challenges. McMurry University is overcomingchallenges in continuing to meet student enrollmentgrowth. To date, we have received more fall 2009applications and deposits than ever before. Our recruitmentmessage remains the same—in tough economic times,a college education is the best investment for the future.McMurry will be fiscally responsible in ensuring that allendowed scholarships are awarded while protecting theendowment corpus—a promise that we will keep despiteoverall endowment reductions. Though many of our peerinstitutions are imposing large tuition increases, we willhold tuition to a modest growth to help offset the impact onstudents and parents. Most importantly, we will perseverein our mission to prepare and educate excellent students forthe future.We will persevere in our goal to “shape the future” ofMcMurry students for generations to come by continuingour capital campaign. We have already set new records forcampaign contributions as we near $30 million, but more isto be done. The campaign is targeting projects that have animportant and immediate impact on student education anddevelopment. One of these projects is continuing to buildour endowment. Providing financial assistance for studentscholarships is a great investment opportunity for todayand tomorrow, and in the near future, you will receiveinformation on how groups of alumni are combiningtheir gifts to create endowments to honor or memorializeprofessors from the past.Many of you already support McMurry, and we areproud to recognize you on the following pages for yourgenerosity. We are extremely grateful for your generoussupport this past year. Your contributions have helpedsustain and grow McMurry to a record enrollment and haveplayed an important role in gaining national recognitionfor many of our programs. I hope that you will continue tosupport the University in order to preserve the McMurryexperience that was so special to you in your life’s journey.How else can you help McMurry students perseverein this economic uncertainty? Consider how connected,involved and engaged you are with McMurry right now.Is there an opportunity to recruit and retain students?Do you demonstrate and voice pride to others about yourMcMurry experience? Do you support financially theprograms that were influential to you? In addition to anoutright gift, there are many ways you can support us inthese uncertain times. Check out the McMurry Nationwebsite at http://nation.mcm.edu for volunteer ideas. Theremay also be opportunities for gifts to offset tax liabilitiesthrough life insurance, securities, IRAs and a legacy (estate)designation. These gifts provide huge benefits to McMurryas well as to you.You are important to McMurry’s mission ofeducating students who will “shape the future.” Hopefully,it will be a future that will not be impacted by the dramaticfinancial change and uncertainty that we experience today.Regardless of outside influences, it will be a bright futurefor a great university—a McMurry that has persevered andthrived! •Steve CrismanVice President for Advancement12 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y