New donor recognition society established

A select group of longtime supporters of Virginia Tech has been honored as charter members of a newly established donor recognition society. The supporters, whose lifetime giving to the university totals between $50,000 and $100,000, are the first to qualify for the Caldwell Society, which carries the name of the first student to enroll at Virginia Tech, William Addison Caldwell. The university's oldest donor recognition organization, the Ut Prosim Society, was founded in 1987 and will now include donors whose lifetime giving totals $100,000 or more.

"The Caldwell Society will give recognition to many of the university's most loyal supporters," says Elizabeth Flanagan, vice president for development and university relations. "These are individuals who have contributed significantly to the quality of this institution and to the strength of its faculty and programs. They have made it possible for many young men and women to pursue their educational goals."

Society members will be encouraged to attend occasional events and activities on campus and will receive university news of interest throughout the year. Members will also receive a specially designed certificate of membership signed by President Charles Steger.

To qualify for membership, an individual's contributions during his or her lifetime must total between $50,000 and $100,000 and must have been received by the university. Contributions in the form of outright gifts, pledge payments, received matching gifts, the deductible value of deferred gifts, and the adjusted value of in-kind gifts are credited toward membership.

Lane Stadium campaign quickly nears its goal

Less than a year after launching The Game Plan, a campaign to add more than 11,000 seats and many amenities to Lane Stadium's South End Zone, the Virginia Tech Department of Athletics has received nearly two-thirds of its $15-million goal. Thanks to the generosity of many Hokie fans (and a streak of unseasonably warm weather), construction is well ahead of schedule, and the project will be completed as planned for the 2002 football season.

A pledge of $750,000 from Mrs. June Oblinger Shott of Bluefield, W.Va., helped propel the initiative in its early stages. The renovated end zone's new media center will be named in honor of her contribution. A state-of-the-art facility, the June Oblinger Shott Media Center will offer print and electronic reporters the best accommodations, including a game-day area for interviews, a work room equipped with computer terminals, a dark room, and individual radio rooms for post-game shows. Other naming opportunities still available include a new locker room for visiting teams and two exclusive stadium clubs.

Anyone interested in tracking the progress of this project can find information about The Game Plan at www.hokiesportsinfo.com. This site includes links to live video shots of the construction, archived construction photos, and the virtual reality tour of the new facility that premiered at the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1. Visitors can also review the South End Zone's new seating options and prices and reserve tickets online. For more information, contact the Hokie Club at 540/231-6618.