Fort Valley State gets a record $5.8 million gift from an alumnus's estate

Fort Valley State University in central Georgia just landed the largest donation it has ever received. Alumnus Pastor Eddie D. Smith Sr. and his wife Martha left the school $5.8 million through their estate and the university disclosed the bequest on Oct. 9.

A gift from a two-time graduate

Smith studied elementary education at Fort Valley State twice over. He finished a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master's in 1971 and the university says he stayed connected to it for life. The estate's executor Kenneth Moye presented the gift to the university.

How it will be used

The money is earmarked for academic excellence and student success. Those are two of the school's main priorities and the gift is meant to improve what students experience on campus.

President Paul A. Jones called the bequest a major investment in the school's future and above all in its students. He thanked the Smith family for trusting the school's mission.

A school on the rise

The university points to a string of recent honors. It is a Carnegie-designated research college and says it ranks as the top public HBCU in Georgia. It also reports a strong record on social mobility. Fort Valley State is a public HBCU and an 1890 land-grant institution.

Officials say the Smith gift will help students turn their education into bigger opportunities for themselves and their families and their hometowns.