$10M gift — largest in Concordia University’s history — will help finance science, math center

Concordia University of Nebraska has received a $10 million donation from the Rupert Dunklau Foundation, the largest donation in the school’s 124 years. The money will be the lead gift for a new center for science, math and business at the university in Seward. Construction on the project, which is expected to cost $24 million, is scheduled to start in April and finish in fall 2019. The Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business will include 58,000 square feet of new construction and 28,000 square feet of renovated space in the current science building. Rupert Dunklau retired as executive vice president of Valmont Industries. He died two years ago. Concordia said the Rupert Dunklau Foundation provides resources to ministries related to the Lutheran tradition. Concordia said the Dunklau Foundation has supported Lutheran schools and other programs that promote the general welfare, including Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. Dunklau Foundation President Delmer Toebben said the foundation reflects Dunklau’s philanthropy and spirituality. “We pray it (the gift) will have a transformational impact on countless generations of students to come and those they go on to serve,” Toebben said. The groundbreaking is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 5.