An historic gift to Emporia State honors a former university president, launches the new Hornet Nation Rising fundraising initiative and propels current and future students to successful futures.
The Dr. John E. King Endowed Professorship, honoring Emporia State’s 11th president, in The Teachers College was made possible by Arthur C. Piculell’s gift of $500,000.
“We are on the heels of the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of Emporia State University,” said ESU President Allison Garrett on the new Hornet Nation Rising. “We are maintaining the momentum to continue to provide exceptional higher education opportunities for our students.”
Hornet Nation Rising includes four of the school’s most valued traditions and top priorities for continued advancement: student scholarships, campus facilities, Hornet athletics and endowed professorships.
With his gift, Piculell makes ESU history as the first donor to establish endowed professorships in each of ESU’s three undergraduate colleges. In 2004, Piculell and his late wife, Dee, established a professorship in the name of Dr. Herman B. Baehr in the School of Business. Again, in 2014, Piculell established a fund in memory of Dee and named for Rosamond Hirschorn in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
These professorships will continue the reputation of excellence and student success that has been drawing attention to Emporia State. Just last month, the university was recognized as a College of Distinction for demonstrating innovative application of high-impact education.
“Like our recent graduates, Art Piculell and his late wife, Dee, are Emporia State success stories,” said Garrett. “We cannot thank them enough for giving back to their alma mater and helping the next generation succeed.”
Read more about Hornet Nation Rising as well as Art Piculell and John King at www.emporia.edu/rising.