BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug. 20, 2019 — King is grateful to announce the attainment of a $1 million gift challenge, a milestone achievement for the University’s 2018-19 fiscal year.

In response to the challenge, which was presented by an anonymous alumnus in the fall of 2018, hundreds of King alumni, trustees, faculty, staff and friends gave gifts totaling $1,252,826 — exceeding the target by 25%.

Related gifts provide for a variety of applications, including financial aid for current and future students, campus infrastructure improvements, and other prioritized needs.

“This gift challenge is notable not only for its size, but for the amount of community support that it inspired in response,” said Alexander Whitaker, president of King. “A visionary alumnus set the bar high in his belief regarding the generosity and devotion of the King community. The King community proved his belief to be well-founded, and many students from throughout our region will benefit as a result.”

The million-dollar gift match caps a year of significant accomplishments for King. During the 2018-2019 academic year, the University received reaffirmation of its accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the governing body that helps to uphold the educational quality of degree-granting institutions throughout the South. The school also recorded two successive semesters where nursing graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam.

“Although this gift will go a long way toward helping many students achieve their academic goals at King, the need for financial support remains,” Whitaker said. “While King is blessed with a number of strengths, this challenging climate requires the continued partnership of donors who understand and appreciate the extraordinary impact of King on our students and the world at large.”