CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER Dear Friend of East Central University, ECU is more than a campus, it’s a place where lives are transformed. As a first-generation college student from a family with an eighth-grade education, ECU opened doors I never imagined. That’s why I’m committed to leading this university with a clear vision for the future: to ensure every student—whether from a rural area, Native heritage, or the first in their family to attend college— has the same opportunity to succeed. For 116 years, ECU has been a place of possibility, starting with a 16-acre gift from Dan Hays of the Chickasaw Nation. Today, we carry that legacy forward. We’ve now launched ECU Forward: A Capital Campaign for East Central University with a goal to raise $36.3 million. These funds will help us invest in students, faculty, academic programs, and campus facilities. With your support, we can continue to deliver a high-quality education that benefits not just our students, but all of Oklahoma. Join us in moving ECU Forward.
Student Spotlight Seniors Saul Padilla and Taylor Spence have been named the recipients of the 2025 George Nigh Award, East Central University’s highest honor for graduating seniors. The award is named in honor of late Oklahoma Governor George Nigh, an ECU alumnus who also served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, as lieutenant governor, and as president of the University of Central Oklahoma. Supported by an endowment from the late Julian Rothbaum—a Tulsa oilman, banker, and state regent for higher education—the award is administered through the ECU Foundation, Inc. Each year, top seniors are invited to apply and complete a competitive application and interview process. “My family has been connected to East Central for over 100 years. We’ve been proud to be a part of its story, and we hope others will join in moving it forward. It takes financial support to make that possible. Living here in Ada, the needs are more visible, it’s clear just how much this university matters. ECU doesn’t just educate students; it strengthens the entire community.” - Tom Crabtree 01