EUREKA – Eureka College has received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s 2012 “Circle of Excellence Award for Overall Improvement” for the college’s fundraising results. CASE is a professional association serving educational institutions and staff members working in the areas of development, alumni relations, communications and marketing.

The award is based on the past three years of fundraising performance, according to Eureka College Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Mike Murtagh.
Eureka College saw improvement in the areas of dollars raised, which increased 30 percent; the number of donors, which increased 54 percent; the number of alumni who donated to the college, which increased 43 percent and the number of President’s Circle members, who give more than $1,000 a year, which increased 20 percent. Besides increased giving, criteria for the award include factors that contribute to total support and the overall breadth of development and alumni programs.
Institutions are eligible for consideration for the award based on submission of data to the Council for Aid to Education’s Voluntary Support of Education Survey for three or more consecutive years, Murtagh said. Last year, 1,011 institutions were eligible for consideration, and from that group 429 schools were reviewed for selection. Thirty institutions were selected to receive the award for overall improvement, which Murtagh called “a significant achievement.”
“This award recognizes the contribution of the supporters of Eureka College, who are making a difference in the lives of Eureka College students,” Murtagh said. “Their generosity will ensure that the quality of education available at Eureka College continues to be in the finest tradition of the liberal arts.”
Other staff members in the Eureka College Office of Development and Alumni Relations are John Morris, Kelly Gschwend, Shellie Schwanke, Ken Baxter and Teresa Kennell.