Siena College's McCormick Center for the Study of the American Revolution has reached its goal of establishing a $2 million endowment as part of its National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge grant.
The College was awarded the grant in 2010, which "challenged" Siena to raise $1.5 million dollars within five years in order to receive a $500,000 award from NEH. The College reached this goal on September 1.
Led by Siena's Development and Alumni Relations offices, support for this initiative came in the form of both large and small donations, which included the Class of 2011 senior gift.
"As a member of the Class of 2011, it is important for the class to remember that we played a part in this great success. The notion that our fundraising efforts have added to this grant should remind us all that we are part of a large community of Saints," said Thomas Gelok, class of 2011 President. "Regardless of where we go next, or where our paths may lead, we will always be interconnected to Siena College and the community we continually help to build."
McCormick Center Director Jennifer Dorsey looks forward to the opportunities that the endowment will provide to future students.
"I am so grateful to everyone who supported the NEH Challenge. These endowment funds will provide a generation of Siena students with meaningful leadership and learning opportunities with history research and education in the Capital Region."
The funds raised will allow the McCormick Center to underwrite student research projects and professional development, increase collaboration with faculty from diverse disciplines, sponsor a visiting scholar, build additional partnerships with local historic sites, and purchase equipment for a developing digital humanities program.
To learn more about the Challenge Grant, please visit the NEH Challenge Grant Website.
