Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek (The Herald/Submitted Photo)

Last year was a record fundraising year for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with more than 32,700 alumni and friends contributing more than $104.7 million. The total was up $7.6 million over 2010-2011.

Such private support is essential to the University of Tennessee’s goal of becoming a Top 25 public research university.

“Successful fundraising efforts are an integral part of our journey,” said Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “It allows us to recruit the best students with scholarships, and educate and challenge them with the best faculty, who are recruited or retained with privately funded professorships and chairs.

“In the end, the future of our state is enhanced as the best and brightest minds from our university make a positive impact on all Tennesseans through their research and discovery.”

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.