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The longtime ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ leader and benefactor passed away Aug. 21.

The generous commitment brings fundraising for phase one of the project to more than $1.5 million as part of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ LEADS Campaign. The renovations will transform ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s baseball facility and one of the university’s most successful athletics programs.

The James P. Elder Lecture series was first endowed by former students of the popular professor and mentor who has now ensured that the series named for him will endure for future generations.

The largest endowment gift in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s history will name the university’s School of Education in honor of Vice President Emerita Jo Watts Williams ’55.

The generous gift from Christian Wiggins ’03 will provide scholarships for students from his hometown of western North Carolina as part of A Will to Lead, a special initiative of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ LEADS Campaign to inspire donors to include ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ in their estate plans.

Looking to the future of clean water, senior engineers develop floating constructed wetlands and water-quality sensors in a senior capstone project. A gift from the Meier family of Portland, Oregon, launched the ongoing water research project.

The Odyssey Scholarship Program offers opportunities for students like Jewel Tillman ’21 to become leaders on campus and after graduation. Growing the number of scholarships to produce graduates the world needs is the top priority of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ LEADS campaign.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s renowned program for struggling young readers has received new Oak Foundation funding to serve more children over the next five years.

The longtime friend and supporter of the university died June 7 after a long illness.

Giving students real-world experiences led ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ parents Scott Bakal and Beth Solomon P’21 to endow the Bakal Family Internship Scholarship. Support for scholarships and increasing access to internships and other ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Experiences programs are top priorities of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ LEADS Campaign.