BGSU announces largest academic gift in university history

by Jay Hannah

Fri, July 31, 2020 at 4:23 PM

Updated Fri, July 31, 2020 at 6:17 PM

BGSU received a $15 million donation for the college of business (WNWO).

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WNWO) — Bowling Green State University has been around for almost 110 years, but it has never received an academic gift like what was announced on Friday.

"Thank you for making this transformational investment into the future of an amazing university. Aye Ziggy Zoomba," said President Rodney Rogers.

Thanks to a $15 million donation to the university, the university presented its first ever named college, which was in honor of the donors, the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business.

"The decision was really easy to do, and I hope that it makes a huge difference in future years. It was really nice to let me be a part of it. Thanks a lot," declared Allen.

The gift is part of BGSU's Changing Lives for the World Campaign, which began in 2014. The Schmidthorsts' donation helped the university surpass its goal of $200 million raised in private funds, six months ahead of schedule.

Allen and Carol have given nearly $20 million to the university themselves. They also have facilities in the Stroh Center named after them, and are heavily involved with men's basketball.

"You have planted many trees, many years ago, and you continue to plant the tree today. To shade us, to comfort us, help our students grow, and to become what this university's major goal is, a public university for the public good," added Board of Trustees Chair, Betty Montgomery.

While Allen didn't graduate from BGSU, he did attend the university in the mid-1950s. He left and began his business career, which featured a number of holdings in the hotel and restaurant industry, including McDonald's.

The university gave him an honorary doctorate in 2017.

With the new business college location, inside of the brand new Maurer Center on campus, BGSU is thinking the innovation will leave a lasting impact on the university for years to come.

"It's our students who will absolutely shape the future, just like our alumni have, just like Carol and Al are doing today," said President Rogers.

The university says the donation will not just affect the college of business, but it will allow many other students to receive scholarship opportunities that were not available before.