A $35 million capital campaign that kicked off on Winston-Salem State University’s campus recently is expected to generate funds for new academic scholarships, endowed professorships and strategic initiatives, according to Chancellor Harold L. Martin
“We are looking to put about 40 percent of the capital campaign funds in scholarships for students, approximately $14 million of the $35 million,” Martin said. “To date, we have raised funds to support 50 new scholarships.”
“We have been using some of the funds already for students who arrived this year and some who arrived last year,” he added.
The launch of the capital campaign attracted visitors from both the city and state.
Kevin Myatt, chairman of the WSSU board of trustees, said funds to recruit new and qualified professors is greatly needed.
“We need to be able to have the finances available to be able to bring those faculty members to the area and to provide them with research dollars,” said Myatt.
According to Martin, students can also look forward to the dollars raised by this campaign generating better educational opportunities outside of the classroom, such as funds to send students abroad and to bring in prominent world figures.
Andrew Schindler, national chairman of the campaign, said networking holds the key to the campaign’s success. William Friday, president emeritus of the University of North Carolina system, said contributing to the campaign is “the best investment you could make.
“The future lies in the hands of those who are training themselves to be really good scientists, engineers, lawyers, doctors, and that’s a matter of the mind. A high school diploma won’t carry you today. It’s important to have, but you have to go on, and that’s why Winston-Salem State’s strength and quality is very important, and especially to this community.”