Culver-Stockton College receives $1.4 million legacy gift
Published 9:35 am Monday, July 27, 2026
CANTON — Culver-Stockton College has received an unexpected $1.4 million estate gift, one of the largest legacy gifts in the school’s history, that will fund student scholarships and establish an endowment for the long-term maintenance of the college’s Science Center.
The gift came from an alumnus and former member of the college’s Board of Trustees who had previously told the college he planned to include it in his estate. Even so, officials said, it was a surprise when a check for the full amount arrived by mail.
“This extraordinary gift is a powerful affirmation of Culver-Stockton’s mission and future,” said Culver-Stockton College President Lauren Schellenberger. “It reflects a deep belief in our students and the life-changing impact of a Culver-Stockton education. Gifts like this allow us to expand opportunity, strengthen our campus, and ensure future generations of Wildcats have the resources they need to thrive.”
Sarah Koplinski, the college’s vice president for advancement, said the size and manner of the gift reflected the donor’s character.
“It’s not every day that an institution receives a gift of this magnitude in the daily mail,” Koplinski said. “Perhaps that speaks to the kind of person our donor was: humble, practical, and focused on making a difference rather than receiving recognition. Their decision to support both scholarships and the long-term care of our Science Center demonstrates remarkable foresight and tremendous trust in the college’s future.”
The college’s Science Center, a 45,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2002, houses the college’s biology, chemistry, health sciences, and pre-professional programs. The building provides laboratories and hands-on learning space for students preparing for careers in medicine, research, and other STEM fields.
College officials said the gift reinforces Culver-Stockton’s broader focus on expanding access to higher education. The scholarship funding is intended to help more students afford to attend the college, while the endowment is designed to sustain the Science Center for future generations of students. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Culver-Stockton among the top 10 regional colleges in the Midwest for social mobility, a measure of how well colleges advance the economic prospects of lower-income students.
Founded in 1853 by members of the Christian Church, Culver-Stockton is a liberal arts college on a 140-acre campus overlooking the Mississippi River. According to the college, it was the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River chartered specifically for coeducation. The college enrolls more than 1,000 students and offers 80 majors and minors, and five graduate programs.
