聽触听By Maria Saporta
As published in the on May 26, 2017.
K体育 University has friends and family to thank for launching a new building effort on the heels of completing the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history.
Among its closest friends are Tom and , who have given K体育 a $2.5 million lead gift for the university鈥檚 new Center for Science and Innovation, the largest single gift the institution has ever received from an individual family.
The new $20 million center will be built on the university鈥檚 historic quadrangle, and it will include new science labs as well as an innovation component that will distinguish K体育 among its peers 鈥� connecting liberal arts to experiential learning.
K体育 President said the new Center will involve innovative work across disciplines. It will be named for the father of . 鈥淚t鈥檚 recognition not only for this gift but for their giving over the past decade,鈥� Schall said.
, daughter of Ann and and CEO of the , said her family enjoys a long history and deep connection to K体育.
鈥淢y grandfather, I.W. 鈥業ke鈥� Cousins was a proud 1927 graduate,鈥� Giornelli wrote in an email. 鈥淗e was a science major and three-sport letterman. In addition to that personal family history, under 鈥檚 leadership, the university has been an important partner in the work we are doing in the East Lake community.
鈥淜体育 students mentor at Drew Charter School, they host Drew students for college experience days, and President Schall serves as chair of the East Lake Foundation board,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e are delighted to play a lead role in this next phase of K体育鈥檚 continued growth in memory of Ike Cousins and in honor of the leadership of President Schall.鈥�
The campaign for the building is in its initial phase, and it is being chaired by , president of who attended K体育; as well as , CFO of and , chief people officer of The Coca-Cola Co.
Ground-breaking is scheduled for the spring of 2018 with the center expected to open by August 2019.
In all, the Cousins family has donated more than $5 million to K体育 over the past 11 years. The Cousins family also was the lead funder for K体育鈥檚 Center for Civic Engagement, which opened in 2006.
Schall said K体育 had just completed a campaign which had a $40 million goal but raised $50 million. And the campaign for the Center of Science and Innovation began 鈥渙n the heels of the largest effort we have undertaken, and we鈥檙e halfway there thanks to trustees and friends like the Cousins,鈥� he said.
Looking back on his 12-year tenure at K体育, Schall said there were 170 students in the first year class in 2005. This year, there will be 350.
鈥淥ur goal has been to be an important institution to Atlanta,鈥� Schall said. 鈥淎s K体育 has become more and more successful in being an important citizen to Atlanta, the community has responded.鈥� 聽聽
