Charles Butler, Mister Honors College 2026-27; Jada Gittings, Miss Honors College
2026-27; First Lady Agatha Conyers; President Alexander Conyers; and Joshua Jackson,
Mister Honors College 2025-26, with the check for the funds raised to date in the
Power of SC State capital campaign.Donors have contributed $17.4 million to date.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University has officially launched The Power of SC State: A Capital
Campaign to Elevate Excellence, a comprehensive $41.2 million fundraising initiative
designed to transform the student experience and solidify the university’s position
as a premier research institution.
The five-year campaign focuses on five strategic pillars:
Student Scholarships
Athletics Enhancements
Faculty/Staff Support
Programmatic Opportunities
Revitalized Facilities.
“At SC State, we have set a vision to be a leader in offering relevant programs that
fulfill the educational needs of every student,” said SC State President Alexander
Conyers. “While public funding is vital, private support is the final piece of the
equation. This campaign is about collaborating with alumni, partners, and friends
to ensure our upward trajectory of student success continues.”
The "silent phase" of the campaign began in 2024. To date, donors have provided more
than $17.4 million in contributions.
Campaign launch marks historic milestone
On Wednesday, May 6, SC State publicly launched the campaign at the Dr. Barbara A.
Vaughan Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Center, bringing together university leadership,
campaign volunteers, alumni and supporters. University leaders unveiled The Power
of SC State and its bold vision, an ambitious and transformative initiative to elevate
excellence, expand opportunity and strengthen SC State’s impact for generations to
come. The launch marked a historic milestone that will help shape the university’s
next chapter.
The launch follows a record-breaking fiscal year (2024–25) in which the university
raised more than $6.08 million in private contributions. Donor participation surged
by 34%, reaching the highest annual count in the university’s 130-year history. Notably,
the alumni giving rate reached 15.2%, significantly outperforming both the national
average (8%) and the HBCU average (10%).
Investing in students, athletics and research
A centerpiece of the campaign is the $10.4 million renovation of Oliver C. Dawson
Stadium. Upgrades include new LED lighting, modernized press boxes, a second elevator
for accessibility and the “Dog Park” premium pregame experience. These enhancements
aim to elevate the Bulldog game-day atmosphere while providing student-athletes with
first-class training and competition spaces.
Beyond athletics, the campaign prioritizes academic excellence. The university recently
achieved R2 status in the Carnegie Classification, joining an elite group of high-activity
research institutions. Campaign funds will support this momentum through $2 million
in endowed professorships and $5.5 million for scholarships, including 833 new need-based
awards.
“Our students deserve a campus that reflects the excellence of their ambitions,” Conyers
added, noting that the campaign complements more than $210 million in ongoing campus
construction, including a new 94,000-square-foot academic facility and a state-of-the-art
University Library.
The campaign is led by a dedicated group of co-chairs, including Col. (Ret.) Ned E.
Felder, Class of 1959; Hank and Iva Allen, Class of 1978; Coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough,
Class of 1975; Josie Pough, Class of 1980; and Patrena Rice, Class of 1971.
“This is our university and our responsibility,” said honorary co-chair Col. Felder.
“Through this campaign, we can provide our students with the foundation for success
for generations to come.”
