ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern (UNW) and Northwestern Media has collectively raised over $170 million in gifts and pledges since 2014. Dr. Alan Cureton, president of the higher education and media organization, made the announcement in a recent special on-campus giving celebration. These gifts and pledges enable the organization to sustain and expand its respective ministries for student scholarship and leading people to Christ and nurturing believers in their spiritual growth through Christ-centered media.
In the last seven years, the UNW and Northwestern Media have undergone several significant projects that were made possible by gifts and pledges. The university renovated Knight Performance Hall, a 1,500-seat performance hall in the Totino Fine Arts Center, in 2014. Student scholarships were enhanced: over 30 new endowed scholarships were created, as were several endowed programs such as the Student Investment Club and the Wildes-Stevens Environmental Science Program. Nearly $9 million was given towards need-based scholarships benefitted 3,000 students. In the last four years alone, UNW’s endowment has grown over 20 percent.
Northwestern’s academic profile, specifically in STEM fields, has grown in part as a result of these gifts. UNW’s nursing program has been ranked No. 1 in Minnesota for four consecutive years by registerednursing.org. Northwestern biology students are able to digitally dissect and study hundreds of three-dimensional cadavers using a state-of-the-art Anatomage machine; UNW is one of only three universities in Minnesota that have the digital cadaver lab at the undergraduate level. The institution also boasts one of Minnesota’s best engineering programs among private institutions.
On the media side, Northwestern has added new media markets in Champaign and Peoria, Ill., and Rapid City, S.D., growing the organization’s number of stations to 23 in 14 markets within 10 states. Over 1.5 million listeners tune into Northwestern Media each month. Simultaneously, Northwestern has played an active role in launching Christian radio stations and providing programming in places such as Malawi, Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, along with many others.
“Several years ago, Northwestern began a giving campaign focused on strengthening our organization in the form of increased student scholarships, expanding our media footprint, renovating facilities, and enhancing the overall student experience,” Cureton said. He continued, “Even during a pandemic, we’ve accomplished a lot in the last seven years. Through many friends of the university and our media ministry, God has been faithful to Northwestern; we have much for which to be grateful to Him for.”
“The generosity of our donors makes Northwestern both affordable and attractive to students who desire to grow in their academic and spiritual growth,” said Dr. April Moreton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Furthermore, these same friends allow us to fulfill our media ministry’s mission of leading people to Christ and nurturing believers in their spiritual growth. We are grateful for their commitment to both the Northwestern student and listener experiences.”
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University of Northwestern – St. Paul (UNW) is a nondenominational Christian university in St. Paul, Minn. With a biblical worldview integrated into all programs, UNW provides a unique educational experience for students who want to combine faith and education. Northwestern offers 75+ areas of undergraduate study, seven master’s degrees, and online and early college programs. Northwestern Media, a ministry of the university, owns and operates 23 Christian radio stations throughout the Midwest with a total listenership of more than 1.5 million listeners. Visit unwsp.edu for more information.
Greg Johnson, Ph.D.
Vice President for Strategy & Chief of Staff Adjunct Instructor
