Campaign Success

When the weather gets colder and snow starts to fall, I can't help but remember the winters that I experienced during my time as a student at Frostburg. Mother nature provided the backdrop for so much fun; be it skiing at the Wisp, sliding on cafeteria trays on the upper quad, snowball fights, or evenings spent with friends. Snowy winters at Frostburg were special, and I am grateful for my connection to such a wonderful place and to so many great people. 

We are just over two years into the public phase of our Forging Futures: The Campaign for Frostburg State University. The purpose of this campaign is to provide resources and opportunities for our students, which includes endowing and further funding scholarships, developing meaningful student activities and creating opportunities in athletics and the arts. 

Late last summer the campaign surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $25 million ahead of our end of year target. As a result of this amazing success, the Board has decided to continue the campaign to allow additional funds to be raised for students, the University and the region. I am also happy to report that in mid-January we passed the $27 million mark, all thanks to the generosity of alumni, faculty and staff, parents of students and members of the community.

The University’s fundraising team is very good at what they do, and their leadership through this campaign has yielded positive results. And although a main focus for the team is on meeting our financial goals, how we do this matters, a lot. Connecting people to FSU is very important, and having stakeholders that care is critical to the long-term success of the University. This campaign has generated over 15,034 first-time donors, and a staggering 5,349 of them are alumni. Some of the campaign’s immediate dividends include the 579 FSU students that have received scholarships in the past year and the more than $1.22 million in scholarship funds that have been distributed. 

We will continue to update the community on our success and opportunities in Profile, and you can also learn more at https://frostburgstateforgingfutures.com/.

In Sowers Hall during the winter of 1984-1985, the Frostburg winter helped forge friendships that remain strong today. Our group gathers together as much as we can, but our enduring connection has become our FSU Class of ‘88ish fantasy football league, which provides a great opportunity for us to stay connected. As such, and this may border on abuse of power, I would like to congratulate this year's champion, Brian Kanyan ‘88. Well done BK, and perhaps you can send some of your winnings to your alma mater!

If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Pat Friel ‘88

FSUF Board Chair