All cheers

It was all cheers April 19 on a day like no other. As students showcased their best work through posters, presentations and performances across campus, the University of Dayton launched the public phase of its first comprehensive campaign in more than 20 years.

We Soar, the theme for the campaign, calls all Flyers and friends to be united in the University’s call to learn, lead and serve by exploring the boundaries of human knowledge to make the world a better place.

On April 19, the University celebrated the Brother Joseph W. Stander Symposium, an annual event to recognize, showcase and celebrate mentored academic and artistic accomplishments in undergraduate and graduate education. The University also marked its fifth annual giving day, One Day, One Dayton, a collective show of support that celebrates gifts of all sizes and what can be accomplished by joining together.

That evening, the We Soar campaign was unveiled with a celebration at the Dayton Arcade, where UD serves as an anchor tenant in this symbol of downtown revitalization.

The campaign is not for brick-and-mortar projects but for people, specifically students and the faculty and staff who lead them to their success. The money raised will go toward:

• • Scholarships: creating robust programs to assure access to great students who will benefit from the holistic Catholic, Marianist education and in the process make UD the best version of itself.
    
    
  • Experiential learning: expanding hands-on learning opportunities for all students on campus, in the community and around the world.

• Academic excellence: including recruiting, retaining and investing in great faculty and staff mentors and innovative programs and research that enrich the student experience.

“This comprehensive campaign will enable us to enhance how we do our No. 1 job, which is to attract, educate and graduate students who will go out and make a difference in the world.”

“This comprehensive campaign will enable us to enhance how we do our No. 1 job, which is to attract, educate and graduate students who will go out and make a difference in the world,” said University President Eric F. Spina.

We hear all the time that UD is a special place, and this campaign will allow us to make our unique, holistic experience — grounded in our Catholic, Marianist mission — more accessible to talented students, prepare them for their vocations with hands-on learning opportunities, and expose them to the brightest and most innovative educators and mentors."

The We Soar campaign will resonate with the already strong Flyer nation in its philanthropic goal to raise $400 million. As of March 15, alumni and friends of the University had given $316.7 million toward the campaign, from giving day donations to major gifts.

The campaign is also about growing the number of Flyers who engage deeply with UD. The University will grow its volunteer leaders to 2,800 and will welcome 19,250 more Flyers to join the Front Porch Society, which honors gifts of any size given for three consecutive fiscal years.

“We are grateful for our generous alumni and friends who have given during the initial stages of this campaign,” Chris Morrison ’85, vice president of advancement, noted. “Now we’re looking to our Flyer family to continue to be consistent annual donors and engaged volunteers who can help us cross the finish line. It’s the strong support of our donors, parents, faculty and staff that will make us successful in continuing to educate our students so they can make a positive difference in the world.”