Morningside University receives alumni support for new business building
Funded by an alum's lead gift and supported by further alumni donations, Morningside University's new business facility will host an entrepreneurship center. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Gifts from Morningside University alumni will help bring the Sioux City private college's new business building to life, with the addition of an entrepreneurship center.
Half of a $2 million gift from alumni Jim and Sharon Walker will go to a new building that will house Morningside's school of business, according to a news release , with the other $1 million going to the college's endowment.
"The profound commitment Jim and Sharon Walker have shown to Morningside University is nothing short of extraordinary," said Morningside President Albert Mosley in the release. "Their generous gift will significantly contribute to creating a state-of-the-art business building, fostering a top-tier learning environment for our students. Furthermore, their endowment contribution is a vital investment in the University's future, supporting continued innovation and ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to Morningside's exceptional education."
The new facility will also be a home for the new Larry and Joan Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, according to a release . The center will serve as a launching pad for start-ups, the release stated, and cultivate innovation and economic growth within the school of business.
Larry and Joan Arnold said in the release that the donation "is meant to enhance the vibrant ecosystem of innovation and practical learning already found in the Morningside University School of Business, while reinforcing Morningside's role as a catalyst for regional economic vitality." The couple said they look forward to seeing the center grow and evolve in the future.
"We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from Larry and Joan Arnold," Mosley said in the release. "This center will cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit and drive economic development both within our university and the broader community."
Plans for the business building began with an alumni donation as well, with the university announcing in April that alum and philanthropist Tom Rosen donated a $2 million lead gift to the project. The school of business offers undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, administration, marketing and more, as well as a new master of business administration program.
