Gratitude: Theme of Largest Estate Gift

A heartfelt expression of gratitude from anonymous donors for the impact the university has had on their two children has led to a $6.14 million estate gift commitment for Cedarville University.  

The gift is in support of the university’s $175 million One Thousand Days Transformed: The Campaign for Cedarville initiative, which has currently received $155.5 million in commitments. 

“We are grateful for the generosity of these donors who made this gift to ensure future students are able to attend Cedarville University and receive an education from a biblical worldview,” said Thomas White, president. “We are committed to stewarding the gift well and honoring the donors’ investment that will ultimately yield eternal dividends.”  

The $6.14 million planned gift — the largest estate gift commitment in Cedarville’s history — will be used for student scholarships and the future needs of the university. It is the largest gift of its kind in Cedarville’s history, surpassing the $3.1 million estate gift of Roger and Charlotte Kuriger in 2018 for scholarship awards for graduate nursing students and undergraduates studying accounting. 

This estate gift was made by the parents of two current Cedarville students who understand the value of a Cedarville education and its impact on the lives of their children.  

“We want to express our gratitude to Cedarville University faculty and staff for the way they have invested in the life of our students,” said the anonymous donors. “We have been blessed and greatly encouraged by the interactions we’ve had with Cedarville students and its leaders, and we firmly believe in the mission of standing for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” 

Two years earlier than expected, Cedarville University surpassed the original $125 million goal for One Thousand Days Transformed: The Campaign for Cedarville. At that point, the board of trustees approved raising the campaign goal to its current $175 million, which will continue through the 2025 academic year. 

“We have already seen how the One Thousand Days Transformed campaign has enabled Cedarville to equip students for career success and lifelong impact for the gospel,” said White. "As we watch how the Lord is working at Cedarville, we are grateful for the support from friends of the university, and we give thanks to God for the honor of stewarding the resources he has so graciously provided.”   

The success of the campaign speaks to God's faithfulness and generosity of more than 17,000 individuals and organizations that have contributed.  

The funds received in the campaign will be used to make Cedarville affordable through student scholarships, construct new buildings and build the university’s endowment so it will be sustainable for decades to come. 

“One of the most exciting aspects of this expansion for me is the dream of adding additional funding for student scholarships,” said White. “If we raise these funds and combine them with other gifts and commitments, we can tackle the affordability challenge for students desiring a biblically based education rather than secular humanism wrapped in liberal agendas fed to them in almost every class and almost every day at secular schools.” 

Scharnberg Business and Communication Center 

The marquee building to date is the $40 million, 65,000-square-foot Scharnberg Business and Communication Center, located on the northern edge of Cedar Lake between the Dixon Ministry Center and Stevens Student Center. 

The center is the future home of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, the department of communication, the Berry Center for Free Enterprise and the center for the advancement of cybersecurity.  

“The Scharnberg Center will serve as a flagship building on campus,” said Dr. Jeff Haymond, dean of the Plaster School of Business. “It will offer students collaborative spaces, new dining options and larger classrooms. This building will be integral as our university continues to expand.”   

Build a New Residence Hall 

To keep up with this growing student body, Cedarville is building a 350-bed residence hall that will be part of a residential housing village on the western edge of campus. The facility, which will open in August 2024, will provide additional housing opportunities for undergraduate students. 

Move Forward with Academic Center Construction 

This growing student body will also require additional classroom spaces. Cedarville is preparing for the construction of another premier building that will have classrooms and faculty offices in a new academic center slated to face State Route 72 on the front of Cedarville’s campus. The facility will be used to train the next generation of educators, politicians, police officers, psychologists and linguists. 

“The public sphere needs graduates committed to a biblical worldview and trained with excellence to have a kingdom impact in these important fields,” added White. 

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 5,456 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the university, visit cedarville.edu.