St. Mary’s University merits support on capital campaign

The high level of support St. Mary’s University has received for its $130 million capital campaign speaks volumes about San Antonio’s oldest college campus.

The Marianist and Catholic university already had $105 million pledged when it went public with its fundraising efforts earlier this month. Included in the donation list were 24 gifts of at least $1 million each from alumni. It is the largest fundraising campaign for the school, which was established in 1852.

Just under a third of the funds will be used for scholarships for a student body that reflects a high percentage of students who are the first in their families to go to college. Some of the funds raised will also be used for endowed dean and faculty positions.

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Renovation of existing lab facilities in the science buildings, construction of a new science, technology, engineering and math education building and a new performing arts centers are in the capital projects budget.

The university plans for centers devoted to veterans, international students, careers services and student development opportunities. Some of capital campaign funds are earmarked for the school’s Law Success Program that helps law students prepare for the state bar exam.

The school has 2,300 undergraduates and 3,600 graduate students with the majority coming from San Antonio and South Texas.

“We are not a research university. We have been about preparing people to serve their community,” St. Mary’s President Thomas Mengler said during a recent meeting with the Express-New Editorial Board.

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He refers to the university, located on 135 acres about three miles northwest of downtown, as one of the best kept secrets in town. We agree.

His goal to make the school one of the best universities in the Southwest merits public support.