A fiscal year highlighted by the launch of a major capital campaign and the completion of several key facility projects ranks as the most successful in the history of Miami University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics David Sayler announced a record $28.3 million in new gifts and pledges during fiscal year 2015.

"The success of the past year is the result of a clear vision for what Miami Athletics can and should be," Sayler said. "We are fortunate to enjoy the strong commitment of the university's leadership and the generosity and passion of our alumni and friends. I'm pleased and excited by the momentum of the Graduating Champions Campaign and the impact it is already having on generations of current and future Miami student-athletes."

The total also includes $877,000 in support for the Miami Red & White Club, which provides annual scholarship funding to Miami's student-athletes. The total matches the record total from 2014, and Red & White Club support is up 23 percent from fiscal year 2013. For the second straight year, 100 percent of Miami's more than 500 student-athletes joined the effort by making a gift to the Red & White Club.

Announced in April, the Graduating Champions Campaign is an $80 million effort to increase scholarship support and improve athletic facilities. To date, it already has raised $49.3 million. Some of its most notable successes over the past fiscal year include leadership gifts from David '86 and Anita Dauch, Randy '77 and Vicki Gunlock, and Ben '12 and Ashley Roethlisberger. A university affiliation with Mercy Health-Cincinnati provided an additional $10 million to support the Gunlock Family Athletic Performance Center.

Physical evidence of the Campaign's success is evident across campus, including the completion of David and Anita Dauch Indoor Sports Center, a new Goggin Ice Center Weight and Conditioning Room, and an initial round of renovations to Millett Hall. Miami Baseball's Legacy Project at Hayden Park is under construction and slated to open this September, and construction recently was approved for the Gunlock Family Athletic Performance Center.

Miami Athletics' mission is to Graduate Champions by providing guidance and support to Miami students committed to their unyielding pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.

To learn more about the Graduating Champions Campaign and how you can join in the effort, visit MiamiOH.edu/GraduatingChampions.