President Rebecca M. Bergman
We often talk of excellence at Gustavus–how we strive for it, how we nurture it, and how we celebrate it. Yesterday, at the end of another busy week, I attended the Family Weekend worship service and the Family Weekend Concert and was reminded all over again what excellence looks like.
As I sat in our beautiful chapel at the heart of the campus, excellence echoed from the quartz and concrete walls as our student musicians showcased their work supported by talented and caring conductors. The concert was a moving conclusion to an eventful Family Weekend. A special thanks to our Campus Activities Office for their outstanding work in coordinating a series of fun-filled events as we welcomed hundreds of guests to our home on the hill.
Excellence was on display last week too, when we celebrated the achievements of eight outstanding alumni at the annual Alumni Awards Banquet. The accomplishments of these Gusties were impressive, their stories inspiring. Following the awards, we announced that the College is going public with the largest comprehensive capital campaign in our history. The $225 million campaign, Show the World, will support the continued implementation of the Gustavus Acts Strategic Plan and initiatives that will advance our mission, provide enhanced opportunities for students and faculty, and continue to elevate our reputation.
What does it mean to Show the World? Our vision statement calls for us to deliver an “innovative liberal arts education of recognized excellence.” We have often gone about our good work with a quiet confidence. With this campaign, we embrace the incredible momentum of the Gustavus Acts Strategic Plan and the generosity of our alumni and friends to take the next step as an institution. We will Show the World that we belong among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. We will Show the World our cutting-edge facilities and incredible opportunities for students and faculty alike. We will Show the World how the interdisciplinary thinking and hands-on research skills that students develop here equip them to act on the great challenges of our time.
We will Show the World the excellence of a Gustavus education, and we will do it by moving forward together.
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties.
With respect,
Becky