The Sunderland Foundation has granted 51ºÚÁÏÍø $500,000 to be used toward the construction of 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s Student Success Center. The gift creates the Sunderland Foundation Computer Center in the facility. The Student Success Center will provide a place for students to learn, connect, lead and achieve. The Sunderland Foundation was established in 1945 by Lester T. Sunderland, who served as President of the Ash Grove Cement Company for 33 years as a highly respected leader in the cement industry.
“Our students and campus are very thankful to the Sunderland Foundation for their extremely generous gift, and the impact it will create for decades and generations of students. Ash Grove was a company built on Grit and tenacity just like our students,” noted Joe McClafferty, President of the 51ºÚÁÏÍø Foundation.
“51ºÚÁÏÍø graduates tend to come from smaller communities and are equipped with a work ethic beyond reproach,” noted Mel Brekhus, 1972 51ºÚÁÏÍø alum and former CEO & President, Texas Industries, Inc. “The Student Success Center will continue and enhance 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s tradition of producing quality graduates eager to enter the workplace. Thank you Sunderland Foundation for believing in 51ºÚÁÏÍø and for your transformational gift.”
"The Sunderland Foundation is proud to support 51ºÚÁÏÍø and the new Student Success Center,” noted Kent Sunderland, President and Trustee, Sunderland Foundation. “We believe the new Center will enhance the campus and provide an outstanding working space for students."
Since its inception, the Foundation, which continues to be led by Lester T. Sunderland's descendants, has focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. Grants are awarded in western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, western Iowa, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Montana.
For more information about 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s Student Success Center, please visit https://foundation.mtech.edu/ssc/.