POTSDAM – Led by contributions from alumni and friends, SUNY Potsdam has exceeded its 2010-11 fundraising goal, raising more than $3 million to support student scholarships and the college’s educational mission.

As alumni gather in Potsdam for a reunion weekend and Potsdam Summer Festival, the college is announcing fundraising highlights for the year.

“This achievement is even more exceptional when we consider the tight financial times which we all face,” SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller said.

SUNY Potsdam raised a total of $3,076,976 in fiscal year 2010-11.

The Potsdam College Foundation was the beneficiary of more than $1.6 million from the estate of Professor Emeritus N. Brock McElheran and his wife Jane Munro McElheran. The McElherans’ gifts will ensure funding in perpetuity for SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, and programs that were special to them.

SUNY Potsdam’s Class of 1961, which is celebrating 50 years since graduation, set a new class giving record of more than $800,000 at the college.

Meanwhile Omega Delta Phi Alumni Association, alumni members of the SUNY Potsdam sorority Omega Delta Phi, are donating a new children’s bookcase to the Potsdam Public Library as part of the reunion celebration.

Association President Donnalyn Shuster will present the bookcase to Youth Services Librarian Sarah Sachs at a special dedication ceremony attended by SUNY Potsdam college officials. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony, at 10 a.m. Friday, July 15, at the library.

Endowments are created at a level of $20,000 and above, to provide ongoing support for specific scholarships or programs.

Endowments created this year include:

• The Joseph C. Sarnoff Endowment established by Tom Nesbitt and others, to support student projects

• The Community Performance Series Guest Artist Endowment established by Michael and Barbara Maresca, to support bringing world-class artists to Potsdam

• The Elizabeth “Betsy” Burgan Northrop ‘61 Scholarship established by Bill Kirchgasser, to support early childhood education students

• The Katya Greer Memorial Scholarship, to support art education students.

For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni/giving/waystogive.