Lubbock Christian University announces major gift, new name for honors college
Lubbock Christian University is renaming its honors college after receiving a multi-million-dollar donation to the college, the university announced at a news conference Wednesday morning.
The college is now known as the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation Honors College following the foundation's $3 million contribution.
This gift marks the latest to LCU from the Mabee Foundation, which has invested in the university for 57 years, according to a news release from the school. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the foundation is funding more projects than usual this year.
"The $3 million grant to establish the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation Honors College at Lubbock Christian University will have a transformational influence," LCU President Scott McDowell said in the release. "We are deeply grateful for our longstanding relationship with the Mabee Foundation that has already impacted generations of LCU students. We will steward this gift well to continue to impact the lives of our students for generations to come."
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The honors program at LCU began more than 20 years ago and has grown from an average of approximately 50 students in the first 10 years to over 200 students at its peak, according to the university. The program began with the goal of attracting and inspiring academic excellence in academically gifted students and has developed into a major university component with campus-wide influence, the school said.
The grant will help LCU fulfill its strategic plan and allows the Honors College to fund major projects, like coaching for graduate scholarships, the release said.
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"The additional endowed funding helps improve programming and provide opportunities for students such as study abroad at Oxford and prestigious graduate fellowship programs. It helps our university overall to improve faculty satisfaction and overall classroom interactions," said Dean Stacy Patty of the College of Honors and Liberal Arts.
LCU will renovate the Mabee American Heritage Center, which will now house the Mabee Honors College.
"Congratulations to the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation's amazing and fruitful 75 years! The Mabee Foundation has been an integral part in the growth and maturity of this university since the first Mabee gift in 1966," Raymond Richardson, LCU vice president for university advancement, said in the release. "Thousands and thousands of young people at Lubbock Christian University have and will continue to benefit academically and spiritually because of the work and commitment of the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: LCU announces major gift, new name for honors college
