(From Missouri Southern State University)Today, Missouri Southern State University recognized Bill and Tracy Gibson for their generous and transformational gift to the Lions Forward Campaign.
Their $1 million donation will support the Lions Forward Campaign and the university’s new master’s in data analytics program.
“The Lions Forward Campaign provides opportunity for our alumni and friends to invest in the future of Missouri Southern,” said Dr. Dean Van Galen, president of Missouri Southern State University.
“The truly exciting outcome of the campaign is the transformational impact that gifts will have on the university’s future, our students, and the community.”
Bill and Tracey Gipson are MSSU graduates and longtime university supporters who want to help provide resources for student success at MSSU.
“Southern provided an education that opened doors to our futures,” said Bill Gibson. “This campaign shows what we already know. That Missouri Southern is transforming the future of our students, graduating educated global leaders that will invigorate the industry and grow our communities.”
In 2018 the Gipson’s helped the university launch an undergraduate degree program in Healthcare Administration and established the Gipson Center for Healthcare Leadership. Since then, the Healthcare Administration program has become one of the fastest-growing programs at MSSU. “When I visit with Bill and Tracy about the impact of their previous gift, they speak most often about the joy of meeting and hearing the stories of the students in that program. They understand that at the end of the day, it is truly all about providing transformational experiences for students,” said Dr. Van Galen.
This new gift to the Lions Forward Campaign will have the same transformational impact on the university.
Bill and Tracey Gipson are MSSU graduates and longtime university supporters who want to help provide resources for student success at MSSU.
“Southern provided an education that opened doors to our futures,” said Bill Gibson. “This campaign shows what we already know. That Missouri Southern is transforming the future of our students, graduating educated global leaders that will invigorate the industry and grow our communities.”
In 2018 the Gipson’s helped the university launch an undergraduate degree program in Healthcare Administration and established the Gipson Center for Healthcare Leadership. Since then, the Healthcare Administration program has become one of the fastest-growing programs at MSSU. “When I visit with Bill and Tracy about the impact of their previous gift, they speak most often about the joy of meeting and hearing the stories of the students in that program. They understand that at the end of the day, it is truly all about providing transformational experiences for students,” said Dr. Van Galen.
This new gift to the Lions Forward Campaign will have the same transformational impact on the university.
“Data analytics is the fastest growing graduate field in the world,” said Dr. Lisa Toms, vice president for academic affairs. “The gift from Mr. and Mrs. Gipson will allow the program to be launched with the resources needed to be successful.”
“This moment launches us on a path towards forever elevating the education Missouri Southern students receive at this institution,” said Dr. Brad Hodson, executive vice president of Missouri Southern State University. “Generations of MSSU students who will benefit from the generosity of Bill and Tracy and other donors like them will never forget this day.”
Bill Gipson, an ’85 MSSU graduate in business, is retired president/CEO of Empire District Electric Company in Joplin, serving more than 30 years with the company. As a member and past chair of the MSSU Board of Governors, Governor Gipson has provided wise leadership and counsel through a period of transition and change at MSSU. Tracy, a ’79 graduate of dental hygiene and business, is retired from the United Way of Southwest Missouri where she served as the Donor Relations Associate. Through gifts to the Missouri Southern Foundation, the Gipson’s have supported many causes at MSSU over the years such as student scholarships, and Lion Athletics. In 2002, the Gipson’s were recognized as the university’s Outstanding Alumni.
2 comments:
@ 8:52 Would you rather he just kept his money and have a "screw the world, it's mine, all mine" attitude? I bet he received the usual CEO retirement package including millions in stock options. So what? This man has given millions to Southern and other philanthropic endeavors, he should be met with appreciation, not sniveling and class envy. Also please tell me where in this nation a person has a choice in their utilities? Lived in a lot of places and I've never seen it, not once!
@ 8:28 - I clearly stated in my First Sentence that - "This is a very nice gesture to be able to give back to your School/College and Community".
My Comments are Not about Sniveling or Class Envy - My Family has been extremely fortunate in our Financial Endeavors - - We Tithe, Donate, and Give and Support Charities - - but like a lot of People who Donate - We do Not need to Advertise or Promote or Receive Acknowledgment or have a Sign or Plaque on the Building - This is just part of our Family's philanthropic philosophy. So We believe that Giving is important for a better world.
We made our Incomes in Business and through hard work - - where you were able to pick from a multitude of businesses to buy from - not that you were forced to only buy from 1-Company - it is called Competition!!! The Utility Companies Do Not have Competition.
With Empire District / Liberty Utilities - - You are FORCED to Pay their Rates and Live with their Service Levels, this is what I see as the Problem - - It would be nice if you had a Choice to Buy Electric / Buy Water / Buy Gas / Buy Waste Pickup / Buy Waste Management from multiple Sources - where you had a Choice - Not from a Monopoly. Competiton Drives the Marketplace - and the Advances and Updates in a Sector - If there is NO COMPETITION - then Advances and Updates in a Sector Stagnates - This is Proven...
Plus - If Empire District / Liberty Utilities are able to Pay Extremely Well, Give Large Bonuses, and Stock Options - - Why do they not heavily invest in Fixing / Replacing their Aging Grid System that they Control - - and/or find cheaper/better ways to deliver and maintain - their services - - and not use the Old Adage - - We Only - "Fix Something when it Breaks"... When Individuals and Companies - Make their Millions because of a Forced Monopoly - then I do feel it is time to seek changes and create better ways of accomplishing things.
I do believe that Non-Profits need to clearly examine the Gifts that they Receive and see if it aligns with the Philosophy and Intentions of what they are trying to Accomplish.
One Example - Gary Duncan, President and chief executive officer of Freeman Health System, announced that Gary and Donna Hall had donated $4.5 million to the Freeman Foundation.
Although the Halls’ donation earned them a name on the new tower, Duncan said the $4.5 million gift is more about the future of Freeman in 2008 - My Family also Donated to this Worthy Cause.
The Big Difference was that Gary and Donna Hall - made their Fortune off of Owning Sunflower Supply Company in Galena, Kansas and other Companies - which Distributed and Manufactured and Sold Tobacco Products - - So a Hospital in Joplin sees NO PROBLEM in taking a Large Donation from a Family that clearly operates a Business that causes Lifelong Illnesses, Addictions, and Death by Tobacco - - and who's Companies were Raided multiple time by Agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control (a division of the Kansas Department of Revenue) and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
So my Family - believes in Giving Back - Not from making our Money to give as Donations off of a Forced Monopoly - which Profits off the Consumers, Nor from Feeding the Donation Well to get our Name on a Building or a Plague from the Well Being of Individuals while Creating Health Issues and Death from Products or Services we Sell or Provide - just to look good and get our Name in the Paper - - or a Tax Write-off - - The Majority of Hard Working Small Business Owners and Private Individuals and Families support our Society - - by Donating and Giving Back – and try do the Right Thing.
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