MSU Interim President John Engler and campaign co-chairs Dee Cook and Bob Skandalaris hosted a series of appreciation activities for more than 700 donors. A public celebration was held at the official groundbreaking for the expansion of the College of Music.

James K. Billman Jr., the lead donor for the music pavilion, was among those in attendance for the groundbreaking festivities. Billman was also recognized on the field for the U-M vs. MSU football game Saturday, Oct. 20 for his contributions to the music pavilion. Billman’s support for MSU also includes 18 student scholarships and two endowed professorships.

So far, the Empower Extraordinary campaign has awarded 3,500 new $5,000 scholarships for students, passing its original goal of 3,000 new scholarships, according to the press release. It has also created 104 new endowed faculty positions.

There has been a 35 percent increase in private support for research and this private support has raised over $315 million. The campaign has also funded 22 major construction projects on campus, many of which are currently underway. 

"Some of the gifts for the Empower Extraordinary campaign came in the form of pledges or charitable bequests. More than $1 billion, however, have already been received and put to work funding student scholarships, graduate fellowships, faculty research, building projects and other programs and initiatives," the press release said.