GSW Website Search
- Apply
- About
- Academics
- Admissions
- Financial Aid
- Athletics
- Student Life
- myGSW
- A-Z Index
- Directory
- Map
- Visit
- Give
AMERICUS, Ga. (Aug. 28, 2026) — Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) celebrated the public launch of the largest fundraising campaign in Hurricane history, Rising Together, Shaping Futures, on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Storm Dome. During the celebration, GSW announced that the five-year campaign has already raised $12 million toward its original $12.5 million goal, prompting the University to increase the campaign goal to $15 million for completion by the Gold Force Gala in February 2028.
The campaign focuses on advancing GSW’s future in three key areas:
The launch opened with remarks from Stephen Snyder, assistant vice president for Advancement and executive director of the GSW Foundation.
“We knew a goal of $12.5 million was aspirational, but the support over the last two years has been extraordinary,” said Snyder. “We’ve seen more donors, more leadership-level donors and more major gifts than during any comparable period in our institution’s history, with total giving increasing by 92 percent compared to two years ago. We are incredibly grateful to those who have brought us this far and excited to build on that support as we move toward our new goal.”
“The state of our University is strong, and as we enter our fourth consecutive year of record enrollment, we have an opportunity to build on that momentum,” said GSW President Dr. Kerry Palmer. “When you make a college education possible for a student, you don’t just change that student’s life — you can change the trajectory of an entire family for generations. Education opens doors, and through this campaign, we want to open those doors for as many students as possible by reducing financial barriers and creating opportunities for them to succeed.”
One student who has benefited firsthand from donor generosity is Cassidy Brunner of Dillsburg, Pa., who shared the impact of scholarships from a student’s perspective.
“As a student-athlete, balancing academics, practices, games and campus involvement keeps me very busy. The scholarships I receive have made a tremendous impact on my life, allowing me to focus on my education and extracurricular activities without having to work long hours to cover tuition costs. In fact, scholarships were one of the biggest reasons I chose GSW,” said Brunner, a junior mathematics major with a concentration in computer science, who is also a member of the women’s soccer team and the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program.
Opportunities like the one Brunner received are made possible thanks to donors like Alf Tuggle ’75. “One of the greatest joys of giving is seeing the impact firsthand. Every scholarship recipient represents a dream made possible, a burden lifted, and a future strengthened,” says Tuggle, who established the Fort Family Scholarship with his wife, Marianne ‘76. “When you see students thriving because someone believed in them, you realize that a gift is much more than a financial transaction: it is an investment in their future.”
The campaign’s success has been fueled by the generosity of donors and the leadership of the Campaign Steering Committee, whose members have helped champion the effort and build support for GSW’s future.
The Campaign Steering Committee:
Campaign Steering Committee Chair Lou Chase ’87, ’90 reflected during the launch on her fond memories as a GSW student and member of the Lady Hurricanes softball team and recognized her fellow committee members for their dedication to the campaign.
GSW invites alumni, friends and supporters to make Hurricane history and invest in the next generation of students through Rising Together, Shaping Futures.
Learn more about the campaign and ways to give at gsw.edu/RisingTogether.