Onward Red Tie Gala
On the Friday of the 100th Dakota Days week was the Red Tie Gala for the Onward campaign. The Onward campaign is a capital campaign for the University of South Dakota. It hasn't been the first fundraising campaign that USD has had. In the early 2000's a similar campaign was started called "Campaign South Dakota." USD's foundation raised $134 million and dramatically improved USD's infrastructure. The funds went toward scholarships, undergraduate and faculty research, and building projects.
Nearly 13 years later, the USD Foundation and the university have started Onward. This time the goal is to raise $250 million. This will be the most comprehensive capital campaign in state institution history. The funds will go to scholarships, endowed faculty positions, faculty construction and revitalized projects.
The most important part of the campaign is the scholarships. USD will relieve some of the financial burden of it's students. Great scholarships will attract great students.
As well as scholarships, the university's structures are very important. In the making is a new sports arena and renovations to older buildings on campus. The new arena will give the University a division 1 feel and will give the basketball and volleyball teams a new place to play.
The event on Friday was the kick off for the campaign for the public. The Muenster University Center was transformed to fit the gala. It was shut down at 4:00 p.m. that night to get ready for it. The MUC pit lounge went from having lounge chairs and couches to having cocktail tables and candles in it. In the new expansion where the TV monitors are was a stage set up. It was USD spirit throughout the student union. Over 650 alumni and students were in attendance. The lights glowed red as everyone caught up and relived old memories. As everyone roamed the student union they found stations with elegant food options.
Later in the night everyone was called into the room with the stage. The USD band came out and played while everyone was taking their seats. The first person to welcome everyone was alumni, Governor Daugaard. He said a few inspirational words and then introduced another great alumni, Cody Strand. He sang and said a few words about his time at USD. The third person to talk was President Abbott. He went into more detail about the campaign and how it's going to help. The last to talk were the co-chairs of the Onward campaign, Tom and Nancy Gallagher. They talked in great detail about the work they have put into the campaign and how it's going to impact USD. After they spoke, Cody Strand came back to sing and perform. In between the speakers were video testimonials from donors, students, and board members. Afterward everyone was welcomed to stay for drinks and dessert.
The campaign has raised over $135 million thus far and hope to get beyond their goal.
