s of November 2006, UNC Kenan-Flagler has raised over $163 million in cash and pledges as part of its fundraising campaign. The Kenan-Flagler campaign, with its goal of raising $180 million, is part of the UNC Carolina First campaign, a seven-year drive for $2 billion in private gifts supporting Carolina’s vision to become the nation’s leading public university.

“Through their dedication to the school, alumni have helped us achieve 91 percent of our campaign goal,” says Jim Gray, associate dean of external affairs. “With approximately 12 months left in the Carolina First campaign, private support will help us meet our goals.”

Of the school’s campaign goals, UNC Kenan-Flagler Dean Steve Jones notes, “To ensure our standing as one of the nation’s top business schools, we require a healthy endowment. Most peer schools with which we compete have endowments of $200 million to $300 million. Our objective is to match these schools by raising our endowment to $200 million.” The school’s endowment now stands at $121.9 million.

The contributions of alumni have helped UNC Kenan-Flagler retain faculty, increase the amount of fellowships and scholarships, and enhance our programs, according to Jones. “Our goal is to be a global innovator in business education. We offer students a unique learning experience that will prepare them for positions of leadership,” he explains. “I am confident that we will succeed in our goals with the involvement and support of our many alumni and friends.”

The Falls Prize Supports MBA Fellows

University of North Carolina alumnus Ralph L. Falls Jr. (BSBA ’63) has endowed a monetary prize to benefit MBA students at UNC Kenan-Flagler.

The Falls Prize will be awarded annually to six outstanding MBA students who are selected to receive fellowships to attend UNC Kenan-Flagler. Recipients of The Falls Prize will receive a $25,000 stipend over two years to supplement their fellowship awards. The prize honors students demonstrating the highest potential for leadership, superior academic achievement and a diversity of lifetime experiences in each incoming class.

The prizes are expected to be awarded for the first time for the 2007-2008 academic year. The prize is named in honor of Falls’ father, Dr. Ralph L. Falls Sr., who attended Carolina before entering Atlanta Southern Dental College in Georgia – which later became Emory University School of Dentistry. He served as a dentist during World War II and ran a private dental practice in Morganton, N.C., until his death in 1994. “My father was a very generous person,” Falls said. “This gift will honor his interest in giving back and supporting future business leaders.”

Keeping Carolina First

The Falls Prize Supports MBA Fellows