An anonymous contribution of $1 million to Milligan College will help bolster the college’s science program and will help the launch of a new engineering program.

“Portions of this anonymous gift will go into the college’s endowment to support the sciences at Milligan and some will support new program development, especially for the start-up of Milligan’s new engineering and physician assistant programs,” Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer said. “On top of that, this extremely generous gift will allow for the renovation of the college’s science building and help with the construction of four project and demonstration labs for mechanical and electrical engineering.”

Students majoring in mechanical and electrical engineering represent 35 percent of the total engineering graduates in the United States. The four new labs for the engineering program will be located on the lower level of the B.D. Phillips Memorial Building, located on the campus of Emmanuel Christian Seminary, which is scheduled to become part of Milligan College this summer.

“We are grateful for these friends who have demonstrated their passion for Milligan’s strong liberal arts curriculum by supporting Milligan’s efforts to strengthen the college’s STEM disciplines,” Greer said. “When it launches in fall 2016, the engineering program will meet yet another global and social need, preparing well-rounded engineers, with a heart to serve, for leadership and innovation in all sectors of the economy.”

The donation was made by alumni of the college who wish to remain anonymous, but want to see their gift spark the spirit of charity in their fellow alumni, Greer said.

“The alumni donors, a husband and wife who have a long-standing relationship with the college, wanted to see part of their gift used to challenge other alumni and friends of the college to provide support for scholarships through the Milligan Fund,” Greer said. “As such, a portion of their gift will serve to kick off the college’s planned “Buffalo Drive” one-day fundraising campaign on April 30.”

While such a large donation is rare for a college, this anonymous donation comes on the heels of another $1 million donation in November 2014 when Milligan received a lead gift for the engineering program from Ruth Myers of Cincinnati, Ohio.

“It is rare that a college receives a million dollar gift – much less two in the period of just a few months – but Milligan has been very blessed,” Greer said. “It is even rarer to receive a gift that allows us to fulfill multiple needs in undergirding the future through endowment, building capacity through new programs, and meeting the needs of today’s students through the Milligan Fund.”

“These donors want to see Milligan grow and meet the world’s ever-changing needs as we approach our sesquicentennial in 2016 and beyond,” Greer added.

As part of Milligan’s recently launched $40 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, “Forward Ever,” donations contribute to the college’s overall goal of improving physical infrastructure and adding new academic and spiritual programs.