St. Mary’s College of Maryland announced today it has completed the College’s building campaign, raising $2.5 million in private gifts. Reaching the fundraising goal now allows the College to utilize approximately $76 million in State of Maryland funding for a new academic building with an auditorium and a new athletic stadium complex.
“Thank you to the Governor and Legislature for this tremendous and transformational opportunity that will not only benefit St. Mary’s College but the region as well. Thanks are also due to a record-breaking number of donors who met the $2.5 million challenge,” said Dr. Tuajuanda C. Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College. “The outpouring of support is a testament to the dedication and commitment we receive from our employees, students, parents, the community, and especially our alumni.”
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I also thank the Governor and Legislature for giving our College such a great opportunity to significantly enhance our programs. This will also provide both cultural and economic benefits to the region,” said immediate past Board of Trustees Chair Gail Harmon. “I congratulate President Jordan and her team on reaching this milestone and thank the Roberts family for keeping our College on a promising path forward.”
The success of the campaign challenge can be attributed in part to the Jamie L. Roberts family. The Roberts family donated $2.2 million to the College, with $970,000 of the total donation enabling the building campaign to reach its goal. As a result of the total donation – the single largest gift in the history of the College – the new athletic stadium complex will be named the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, in honor of Jamie L. Roberts, a St. Mary’s College class of 2011 economics major and three-sport star athlete who was tragically killed in June 2014 while riding her bicycle across the country in the 4K For Cancer event, which raised money for the Ulman Cancer Fund to support young adults impacted by cancer.
“We are truly humbled by the generosity of the Roberts family,” said Dr. Jordan. “Jamie had a passion for her studies, respect for her fellow students and community, a deep love for athletics, and a constant drive to serve and give back. She exemplified our College’s core values and we are honored to name the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium as a lasting tribute.”
Jamie’s father, Bob Roberts, said, “Jamie’s love for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the athletics offered there, her teammates, coaches, faculty, staff and all her fellow SMCM student friends will live on as future students follow their own passion for college, Intercollegiate sports, and enjoy a top-tier stadium. We are pleased to be able to partner with St. Mary’s and honor Jamie’s legacy.”
The 4,200-square-foot lighted stadium, including team rooms, a track, bleachers, press box, restrooms and concessions, will be situated between synthetic and grass fields on Mattapany Road. The building campaign also supports the completion of a new 52,289-square-foot academic building to house the College’s music department, a 700-seat auditorium, education studies department, which includes the Master of Arts in Teaching program, and a multi-discipline learning commons area. The entire project is to be completed in phases beginning with the sports complex. The sports complex is scheduled for completion by 2019 and the completion of the entire project is anticipated by 2022.
St. Mary’s College began raising funds for the building campaign in earnest in January 2015. By April 2016, $1.5 million of the goal had been reached, according to Carolyn Curry, vice president for Institutional Advancement. By June 30, the campaign goal was reached through a portion of the Roberts family gift.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, St. Mary’s College will officially mark the accomplishment of the building campaign by thanking the generosity of donors in a celebratory day of events that will include the groundbreaking for the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium.