42nd Annual ‘A Day for Southern’ Campaign Breaks Another Record to Raise More Than $2.3 million

September 15, 2015

(left to right) Lissa Leege, Ph.D., director of the Center for Sustainability and faculty co-chair of the on-campus campaign; Gloria Goosby, director of Annual Giving; Salinda Arthur, vice president for University Advancement and president of the Georgia Southern University Foundation; Interim University President Jean E. Bartels, Ph.D., RN; Anthony Water, community chair for A Day for Southern; Frank Hook, Athletics Foundation director of special projects; and Robert Meguiar, training coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and staff co-chair for the on-campus campaign

Georgia Southern University’s 42nd annual A Day for Southern fundraising campaign has raised $2,335,990. This marks the third straight year the campaign has raised more than $2 million and broken the prior year’s record. Last year’s record was $2,221,424.

“We are very grateful that once again the community has supported Georgia Southern in such an incredible way,” said Interim President Jean E. Bartels, Ph.D., RN. “To break another record is remarkable and we look forward to continuing to provide unparalleled educational experiences for our students.”

Statesboro and Bulloch County businesses along with Georgia Southern faculty, staff, students, retirees and alumni donated to the campaign as a way to show their support for the University. The gifts received support University programs not funded through state dollars, allow students to achieve academic excellence and support outreach centers such as the Center for Wildlife Education, the Georgia Southern Museum, the Garden of the Coastal Plain and state-of-the-art facilities and programs that attract and support research and scholarships.

Jenny Shaffer, a University Honors Program student and scholarship recipient, credits support from A Day for Southern for helping in the pursuit of her educational dreams.

“I can honestly say that my college career has been significantly and positively impacted by the outstanding scholarship support I’ve been blessed to receive at Georgia Southern,” said Shaffer. “With the help of scholarships — funds that were primarily raised through A Day For Southern efforts — I was able to study abroad in Germany last summer and return to complete a three-month long research internship. I never imagined that I would be able to experience my dream internship while in college!”

Alumnus Anthony Waters, a Bulloch County native and co-owner of L.A. Waters Furniture Company, served as the community chair for this year’s campaign. Lissa Leege, Ph.D., director for the Center for Sustainability and professor in the Department of Biology, served as the faculty co-chair. Mr. Robert Meguiar, training coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management served as the staff co-chair. Two hundred volunteers from the University and the community supported their efforts.   

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.