A former Arkansas State University Board of Trustees member has announced a new $1 million gift to benefit agricultural research after completing a prior $1 million gift commitment.
Mike Gibson, an ASU Board of Trustee Emeritus, has announced plans to establish the Judd Hill Student Research and Innovation Endowment to support undergraduate and graduate research in the university’s College of Agriculture. According to an ASU press release, the endowment will concentrate on “providing monetary support for research into the essential crops grown in the upper Delta region.”
The gift will be administered through the Judd Hill Foundation Trust, which was founded by the late Esther Chapin. The trust has been affiliated with ASU for over 25 years, partnering on research projects.
“As Trustee of the Judd Hill Foundation, I am proud to have partnered with Arkansas State University, my alma mater, for more than a quarter century in numerous research and educational programs,” Gibson said. “I am very privileged to have the opportunity, on behalf of the Judd Hill Foundation, to make this $1,000,000 gift to the ASU System Foundation to support their vision. “
Gibson’s gift commitment provides researchers with immediate funding for research projects and funding for the endowment.
“There are three essential components for successful student-based academic research – the faculty mentor, the student investigator and the necessary materials to accomplish the project,” Dean of Agriculture Tim Burcham said. “This endowment will help secure essential materials (equipment, instrumentation, software, etc.) to effectively complete student-based research. This generous gift allows for practical, boots-on-the-ground, research work that will be beneficial for supporting and sustaining agricultural production in the Arkansas Delta. It is the perfect complement to Mr. Gibson’s previous faculty research support gift.”
In addition to the Judd Hill Student Research and Innovation Endowment, Gibson has also endowed the Judd Hill Agricultural Faculty Excellence Fund. This endowment, a $1 million commitment, was recently fulfilled.
Through this endowment, individual faculty members can obtain support for research that aims to improve agriculture in the upper Delta region.
“In an ever-changing world of agriculture, innovation is essential, ASU System President Charles L. Welch said. “I am grateful to Mike as our chairman emeritus of the board, and his leadership, generosity and service to the ASU System are apparent in these two gifts. From his time as a student body president at A-State through his leadership of the system board, he has had his alma mater and his home region in his heart.”
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