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Enhancing the spiritual aspect of education at St. Scholastica
and preserving Tower Hall are the goals of a gift to the College by the Benedictine Sisters of
St. Scholastica. The Sisters have pledged $3 million, the largest gift ever received by
the College, which the Sisters founded in 1912. "The Sisters have always supported the fine work of the College," said Sister Kathleen Hofer, Prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery, "and we continue to be proud of what it accomplishes for our region and nation. Our gift was voted on and approved by the entire community of Benedictine Sisters. |
 Sister Kathleen Hofer, Prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery |
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Our desire is that these funds will enhance the spiritual component of the education provided by the
College, as well as help preserve Tower Hall, the physical structure that has been
the most significant symbol of our halls of learning since the early 1900s." "This extraordinary example of generosity and loyalty by our sponsors will ensure forever that students and our community know that the Benedictine tradition of the Sisters of St. Scholastica is the solid foundation upon which our College rests," said Dr. Larry Goodwin, president of St. Scholastica. |
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 Larry Goodwin said the rock, which is from Tower Hall, and the daisies were symbolic on two levels. They represented the raising of St. Scholastica's buildings from afield of daisies, as well as the ongoing relationship of the Sisters to the College. |
The College became independent in 1962, but honors its Catholic
Benedictine heritage in its mission statement and in its bylaws, which
provide for Monastery representation on the Board of Trustees.
The Sisters' gift will be presented in increments of $750,000 per year for four years, beginning this spring. Of the $3 million total, $2 million will endow a program in Catholic Studies, and $1 million is for protection and enhancement of Tower Hall, the historic structure that serves as the centerpiece of campus. Goodwin said the Sisters' gift "sets the bar for other major gifts to a comprehensive fundraising campaign that is in its formative stages." |
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Karen Alworth ' 82 of Duluth, chair of the campaign's national steering committee, called the gift a "vote of confidence in our future." "The Sisters wanted to be the lead donor in the formative stage of our effort," she said. "The campaign is an effort by which St. Scholastica will summon the talents and support of our alumni and our friends to help the College achieve a new level of excellence. I am very proud to be a part of what will be, by far, the largest campaign The College of St. Scholastica has ever undertaken. The Sisters' gift is a tremendous beginning." Goodwin noted that St. Scholastica has always welcomed students of all faiths. "We recognize, and we value, the contributions of all faith traditions to the human search for meaning. This is why we are also seeking an endowment for our Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice Studies. Our College always has been, is, and will continue to be both Catholic Benedictine and ecumenical/inclusive." |
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