Philanthropist Marian H. Rochelle donated $10 million in support of the Gateway Center three weeks ago, Thursday.
The facility will honor her name: The Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center.
“I’ve worked with Marion since the late 90s and she’s been a very generous supporter,” UW Foundation president, Ben Blalock said.
Rochelle has lived and worked in Wyoming for a number of years. Her husband, Kurt, was on the Board of Trustees in the 1980s. Both individuals have long been involved in UW, and are responsible for the creation of the Rochelle Athletic Center.
Along with the Gateway donation, the Rochelles have provided over $18 million to the university. By contributing this most recent donation, Rochelle made UW history for the most money donated by a single individual.
“The gateway center will be the University’s front door,” Blalock continued.
The Gateway Center is meant to be a place of unity for the university, a place that can intrinsically show others what an established university Wyoming has.
Career services for graduates, an alumni center, significant multi-purpose space and a museum spanning from 1886 to the present are only some of the great features the tech-savvy building entails.
Not only will this facility be an excellent place for students, faculty and alumni, this building will also showcase the university’s legacy.
Construction is scheduled to start for the spring of 2013. However, the facility will not be open until fall of 2014.
