Colorado Mesa University kicked off its Century Celebrations with a $60,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Grand Junction. This gift marks the largest donation ever given by the club. This gift directly supports the Century Scholarship, an initiative to give Mesa County students affordable access to higher education. The donation is matched dollar-for-dollar by CMU, resulting in $120,000 of scholarship impact.
On August 20, the Rotary Club welcomed CMU Foundation CEO Robin Brown to share the university’s history and vision for its 100-year celebration. The partnership between Rotary and CMU is rooted in shared beginnings. In fact, one of CMU’s founding leaders, Richard E. Tope, was a dedicated Rotarian.
Rotary’s commitment to education can be traced throughout CMU’s earliest days:
- 1921 – Rotary backs the first effort to establish a junior college in Grand Junction
- 1925 – Rotary resolves to try again, proposing the old Lowell School building as the site
- 1925 – Richard E. Tope, Superintendent of Grand Junction Schools and Rotarian, is appointed by Governor Morley as a trustee of the new junior college
- 1925 – Tope makes the opening possible by teaching courses himself, loaning teachers from Grand Junction High School, and providing classroom space in the high school building
- 1925 – Tope and fellow Rotarians signed a note guaranteeing payment to help the college get out of debt
From its earliest days to today, the Rotary Club of Grand Junction has been a champion of education and community progress. Their gift reflects a legacy of service and ensures the next generation of Mavericks has the same opportunities to learn, grow and lead.
To learn more about CMU’s Century Celebrations or to support the Century Scholarship, visit CMUCentury.com.