Community bids farewell to YSU president, learns of record campaign

BOARDMAN

YSU President Dr. David C. Sweet capped his 10-year tenure at the university with an announcement that the Centennial Campaign had closed its books with $53 million raised.

“It’s the most successful fund-raising effort in the university’s 102-year history,” Sweet, president since 2000, said at his tribute dinner Thursday.

The event, at Mr. Anthony’s, drew hundreds of people.

The amount raised is above the $43 million goal set when the campaign kicked off six years ago.

Sweet is retiring June 30. Bruce Beeghly, president of the trustees board when Sweet was selected, said that at that time, the board was concerned with declining enrollment.

During Sweet’s leadership, YSU has seen a 25 percent increase in enrollment, and it’s “approaching an all-time record for YSU,” Beeghly said.

Minority enrollment has increased 60 percent in the last decade, he said.

When Sweet arrived on campus, he was struck by the negative views of some people in the community about the city and its future.

One of the first things he did was to improve the appearance of campus parking lots, and soon other nearby organizations followed suit.

“These are little things, but they mean a lot,” Sweet said.

“I believe you raise expectations, set goals and then work together to meet those goals,” the president said.

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