In 1979, the campus drive began at Minnesota State Mankato as an annual event for faculty and staff. The four chairs that year were Dean Bowyer (Physical Education), Claire Faust (Academic Affairs), Shirley Skorr-Piepho (Social Work), and the late Jim Zwickey (Centennial Student Union). In August of each year the President and Vice President for University Advancement select from a pool of candidates the chair of the upcoming campus drive. The pool of candidates consists of recommended faculty and staff who have a passion for philanthropy, and give back to Minnesota State Mankato. The campus drive kicks off annually in late January and ends on June 30. There are over 500 funds that faculty and staff can choose from to give a gift.
The campus drive award is a personalized, formal crystal that is presented to the chair at convocation from the president for their efforts to raise critical dollars for Minnesota State Mankato during the drive. Lucette Wildt, director of annual giving, organizes the drive with the help of two coordinators, Cindy Arndt and Connie Wodtke.
2008 - JEFFREY R. PRIBYL, Chemistry and Geology
2007 - STEWART L. ROSS, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Director and Music Professor
2006 - HELEN WALTERS, Facilities Services
2005 - CHERYL BOWYER, Minnesota State Student Association
2004 - GWEN GRIFFIN, English
2003 - GREG BEDNAR, University Development
2002 - GREGG MARG, Biological Sciences
2001 - DONNA HENSEL, Facilities Management
2000 - TERRANCE FLAHERTY, English
1999 - ROBERT FINKLER, Art
1998 - DAVE HENDEL, Career Development and Counseling Center
1997 - MARILYN L. FOX, Management
1996 - TERRY G. HOMER, Physical Plant
1995 - MIKE HODAPP, Centennial Student Union
1994 - ANN QUADE, Computer and Information Sciences
1993 - ANTUSA BRYANT, Special Education
1992 - PAUL J. HUSTOLES, Theatre Arts
1991 - BRUCE W. SMITH, Accounting
1990 - SANDRA READY, Library
1989 - LOIS J. MUSSETT, Physical Education
1988 - DWAIN F. PETERSEN, Educational Foundations
1987 - DIANE BERGE, Admissions
1986 - FRED BOCK, Theatre Arts
1985 - EVELYN HATFIELD, Educational Foundations
1984 - DAVID JANOVY, Sociology/Corrections
1983 - TRUMAN WOOD, Political Science/Law Enforcement
1982 - LARRY SCHNOOR, Speech Communication
1981 - JACK PARKINS, Admissions
1980 - ROB SHIPMAN, Mass Communications
1979 - DEAN BOWYER, Physical Education
1979 - CLAIRE FAUST, Academic Affairs
1979 - SHIRLEY SKORR-PIEPHO, Social Work
1979 - JIM ZWICKEY, Centennial Student Union
