5/14/07

Contact: Kristy Myers, (334) 844-2948 (kcm0001@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CONTRIBUTES TO AU FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

AUBURN - Alabama State Representative and House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) recently donated $28,000 to Auburn University in support of an endowed scholarship. The scholarship will benefit students in the College of Human Sciences with preference given to those from Lee County.

The gift honors Hubbard’s wife, Susan Hubbard, associate dean of AU’s College of Human Sciences. She is a full professor and previously directed the College’s Hotel and Restaurant Management program prior to her promotion to associate dean last year.

The gift is part of a pledge Rep. Hubbard made following a recent pay increase passed by the Legislature.

“I opposed the legislative pay raise but at least I can take the increase and do some positive things in my district,” said Hubbard, who represents District 79 in the Alabama House. “In funding an endowed scholarship to help students get an education at Auburn University, I’ve tried to take a negative situation and turn it into something positive.”

Hubbard says he will donate the remainder of the legislative pay increase to Auburn United Methodist Church, where he and his family are active members.

The “It Begins at Auburn” campaign encompasses all colleges and schools as well as the AU libraries and museums, athletics and Auburn University Montgomery. Endowments for student scholarships, faculty, programs and unrestricted dollars make up 58 percent of the campaign's goal. In addition to endowments, the campaign also will focus on facilities and equipment; campus beautification; research; and current operations. The campaign has raised more than $474 million, or 95 percent of the goal.

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Auburn University is a top-50 ranked public university that has provided instruction, research and outreach to benefit the state and nation for more than 150 years. A more than $4 billion economic impact on the state - including more than $2.4 billion in providing jobs and people resources - demonstrates AU’s commitment to this mission. AU has more than 214,000 alumni, and provides 130 degree options to nearly 23,500 graduate and undergraduate students.

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