Missouri State University announced the biggest one-time, single donation in university history on Friday at the John Goodman Ampitheatre. The eight-figure gift will support construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in place of the current Art Annex along Grand Street.The money donated by the C.W. Titus Foundation in honor of Judith Enyeart Reynolds will be used to create a new “front porch” to the campus entryway west of National Avenue. Inspired by front porches in the residential neighborhood to the south, the new facility will be a place of connection and celebration for art, according to a news release.As the announcement was made by MSU President Clif Smart, the ampitheatre full of faculty, staff and community members erupted in cheers, woops and “wows.” Smart said the current Art Annex has been around for 70 years.”If we didn’t have this gift, we could not even get to this step,” Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State Foundation, said. “Most gifts don’t come in quite like this.”The project is set to be complete in late fall 2025. Dunn said as design progresses there will be more private support needed for various spaces inside the building. Details about the new building name and design will become available in the upcoming weeks.He said that while the donation is making history, so are the changes the new building will offer to the entire campus, including new space for events and other activities for all academic programs.”This is a great start to the fall semester,” Dunn said.Shawn Wahl, dean of Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, said this project shows what dreaming bigger is all about.”This historic gift inspires our team to create the best learning conditions for students in all academic programs,” he said. “Lab space, new black box theater, plays for guest scholars and on and on and on. Together, we dream bigger. Together, we uplift legacy. Together, we write the destination campus story. Together we build Judy’s front porch.”This is a part of series of work already completed to MSU’s arts facilities like Brick City in downtown Springfield, renovations to Ellis Hall, addition of the John Goodman Ampitheatre in the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Art Park and completion of the Grand Street underpass.More:Soil, foundation concerns spur MSU to empty Art Annex building near underpass projectThe C.W. Titus Foundation previously donated an eight-figure sum in 2020 to fund the Art Park and scholarships for students at the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. Tim Reynolds is a trustee of the C.W. Titus Foundation and Missouri State alumnus. Judy attended Missouri State and worked in the English department from 1966 until her retirement in 1994.
Related Posts

During a faculty strike this year, Chicago State University’s administration said “significant financial strain” prevented leaders from meeting professors’ salary…

Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:1. Not so gloomy August2. From…

Moore’s pace remains relentless because the stakes are so high; she sees suffering around her and knows that not enough…

With 3,350 students, Passaic County Technical Institute has an enrollment that rivals some of the state’s colleges and ranks as…

London CNN — Microsoft will allow business customers in Europe to buy its video and chat app Teams separately from…

JBL is very proud of its new Authentics speaker range. It’s proud of the retro-inspired design, which harks back to…

Text sizeSalesforce reported second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates. Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg Stock futures traded mostly higher as recent economic…

Image: BethesdaAhead of the early access launch of Starfield on Xbox, PC and Game Pass, the game’s director Todd Howard…

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Waco ISD and Temple ISD both plan to join several other school districts in Texas who…

Receive free VinFast LLC updatesWe’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest VinFast LLC news every…