At a gala kickoff dinner resounding with high purpose and auspicious enterprise, the University launched The Sesquicentennal Campaign in early November. By February 2000, its sesquicentennial date, the University seeks to achieve its announced target of $500 million in contributions and pledges, by far its most ambitious fund-raising undertaking.

President Arthur Smith, who presided at the event in the Salt Palace's Grand Ballroom, extended the University's gratitude to donors in the audience and also announced the receipt of two gifts, for $7 million and $6 million respectively.

The campaign theme, Generations of Excellence, was intriguingly illustrated by two public figures who have become synonymous with University of Utah excellence: Spence Eccles BS'56, widely recognized as a consummate "Utah Man" and U of U benefactor who is chairing the campaign, and Sarcos, the startingly human-like robot who played an emcee's role during the dinner program. (Sarcos is a product of the University's Center for Engineering Design and Sarcos Research Corp., a private firm founded by U of U professor Stephen Jacobsen BS'67 MS'70 PhD'73, which has become perhaps the world's finest maker of robots.) "It's a mark of our vitality that we embark on this important endeavor," Eccles told the assembly of about 1,500 President's Dinner guests, who included state regents, University trustees, National Advisory Council members, major contributors, and chairs of campus advisory boards. "The campaign's goals are not only financial, the campaign is also about galvanizing our enthusiasm and shared sense of purpose," Eccles said. Since 1994-95, lead gifts of some $230 million have been applied to the campaign which sets the pace for the public phase now underway. The University received more than $51 million in private gifts during the 1995-96 fiscal year, an all-time record. The total reaches nearly $80 million when private research grants are factored in. A campuswide assessment of needs resulted in the following breakdown of the campaign's overall goal: student scholarships and programs, $39 million; faculty support, $40 million; research and technology, $247 million; academic and public programs, $83 million; libraries, $15 million; facilities, $72 million; and annual fund for special opportunities, $4 million. The kickoff program featured the premiere of the campaign film, Generations of Excellence, a special campaign song with music by Lex de Azevedo and lyrics by Clive Romney, four spokespeople from the Rosenblatt, Cumming, McConkie, and Huntsman families representing different generations, and the University's Drum Line which led the guests into the ballroom.

Andy Cooley BA'92, ASUU president in 1991-92, cites his passion for learning ignited during his campus days. Teaching is exemplified by Tom Parmley BS'21, professor emeritus of physics and the University's Centennial Professor. Parmley began his U of U association in 1915 as an 18-year-old freshman. Dale Poulter, John A. Widtsoe Professor of Chemistry, notes the excitement of discovery he observes among students. Florence Jacobsen BA'34 recalls the friendships she established in her U of U associations. Her mother attended the University of Deseret; Florence and seven brothers are U alumni as well as her own children. Dirim Ahanonu, a College of Nursing student from Nigeria, expresses gratitude for the opportunity she received to pursue her goal. Involvement personifies Stephen Nebeker's U of U connection. Nebeker JD'54 is a former president of the Alumni Association and former University trustee. Anne Cullimore Decker BA'57, a central figure for years in the theater arts, speaks of the beauty that has been nurtured at the U as expressed by the performing arts. Jerilyn McIntyre, vice president for academic affairs, acknowledges the intellectual, cultural, and ethnic diversity found among the student body. Loyalty is reflected by Dr. Homer Warner BS'46 MD'49, professor emeritus of informatics, whose family represents generations of U alumni. Hope is the message of Ray White, director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Human Genetics. While fund-raising is undertaken across the campus by colleges, schools, departments, libraries, research centers, museums, fine arts organizations, health care operations, and public outreach programs, all efforts are being combined under the overall umbrella of The Sesquicentennial Campaign.

The campaign leadership includes an honorary board of advisers, an executive committee chaired by Stephen Nebeker, and a coordinating council chaired by President Smith. Also playing definitive roles are the National Advisory Council, the President's Club Committee chaired by Katharine B. Garff BS'64, and the University's Board of Trustees chaired by James Jardine HBA'71.