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CMU receives largest gift in school history

Central Methodist University's Classic Hall
Trevor Harris
/
KBIA

Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, received the largest gift in its history on Saturday.

The school received a 3.6 million dollar donation from alumni Jay and Kelly Jacobs. This donation is the largest donation that CMU has received in its 160 year history.

President of Central Methodist University Dr. Roger Drake said the purpose of the Jacobs’ donation is to help construct one of two key elements in the current 20 million dollar “Heart of Central” campaign.

“Jay’s gift specifically is to support the Thogmorton Center for Allied Health. And Jay very selflessly asked that his leadership gift enable him name the building in honor of Jim and Helen Thogmorton.”

Drake said Jay Jacobs chose to honor the Thogmortons with his donation because of Jim Thogmorton’s impact on students’ lives as the dean of CMU for 40 years.

Central Methodist University Division Chair of Health Professions Megan Hess said this donation will help create new health programs for the school.

“We’re putting in occupational therapy assistant and physical therapy assistant programs. It’s a two-year associate of applied science type of a degree. The students that come here will also have the opportunity to complete a series of additional course work that would allow them to also have their bachelor’s in health sciences.”

Hess said these new programs will be made possible by the new building being constructed from the large donation. She said new equipment available in this specific building will help students with cognitive and low-vision training.

The building will be completed by August 2015.