Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 25 March 28, 1996 - Campaign begins regional activities in North Carolina

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Campaign begins regional activities in North Carolina

By Terry McGuire, campaign communications manager

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 25 - March 28, 1996

As it moved past the $176-million mark in its climb toward $250 million, the Campaign for Virginia Tech took its nation-wide show on the road, with initial stops in North Carolina.

During the week of March 11, alumni and friends from the Tarheel State attended kick-off events in Winston-Salem/Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh/Durham as part of the regional campaigns in those areas. The North Carolina campaigns are the first of more than 40 such regional fund-raising efforts scheduled from now until the end of 1997.

More than 400 Hokie supporters attended the three North Carolina events, which featured remarks by President Paul Torgersen and the showing of a 10-minute campaign video. Each event was hosted by regional campaign chairmen who, as part of a short formal program, recognized members of their campaign committees and introduced the president. Charles Milam (`73) is chair for Winston-Salem/Greensboro, which was the first region to kick off its campaign, while Mace Coleman ('52) and John McConnell (`72) are serving as chairmen for campaigns in the Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham areas respectively.

In providing a snapshot of today's Virginia Tech, Torgersen spoke in personal terms about the values and the attributes of the university in the context of his 30 years in Blacksburg. The tenets of the land-grant university-teaching, research, and service-continue to guide and shape Virginia Tech, he said. He stressed that while Virginia Tech is one of the nation's top research institutions, teaching never takes a back seat to research, pointing out that 90 percent of Virginia Tech's distinguished faculty members-including himself-are teaching undergraduate courses at any one time.

Torgersen also emphasized Tech's overriding focus on the practical application of knowledge, a focus that produces alumni who make meaningful contributions and who exemplify the university's motto " Ut Prosim "-"That I May Serve." The campaign video highlighted the university's rich history and traced the lineage of alumni from William Addison Caldwell-the first student-to men and women who today are making a world of difference in a wide range of challenging fields.

With the North Carolina travels, the Campaign for Virginia Tech begins another major phase. For the next 22 months, the campaign will multiply into a series of regional undertakings that will criss-cross the country in an effort to reach as many Virginia Tech alumni and friends as possible.

"Our success in North Carolina is the result of a team effort, with members of the university community working with alumni volunteers," Martha O'Neill, director of regional campaigns, said. "It's gratifying to see alumni pride in our first Rhodes Scholar in 30 years, along with enthusiasm for our athletic success. This pride has been concretely demonstrated in early commitments exceeding $4 million from North Carolina supporters."

O'Neill said the regional campaigns are designed to meet three priorities: raise major gifts in support of the campaign; disseminate the Virginia Tech message; and increase the participation of alumni, friends, and parents in giving to and becoming involved with Virginia Tech.

Between now and the middle of June, the Campaign for Virginia Tech will move on to Bluefield, Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia, Richmond, the Tri-Cities area around Richmond, and Atlanta.

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