San Diego
Point Loma Nazarene College plans to use a record $5.7-million endowment for scholarships and the construction of a fine arts building, college officials said Monday.
The endowment consists of cash and real estate identified in the will of Gladys L. Cooper, who died in February, 1984, at the age of 95 but whose estate was only recently settled.
“This is the largest single gift we’ve ever received,” said Sharon Strawn, spokeswoman for the college, at 3900 Lomaland Drive. “This was a nice, nice surprise, and it’s something we’re elated about.”
The school, which has an enrollment of 1,930, will use $5.1 million of the gift to help build a fine arts center, scheduled for construction in 1991. In addition to containing an auditorium for concerts and stage plays, the building will house the music, art and speech-communication departments.
The remaining $600,000 will be used for scholarships.
Throughout her life, Cooper was an active supporter of the college, dating to the days when it was located in Pasadena. She and her husband, Frank, who died in 1944, were ranchers in Central California, building a valuable strain of Hereford breeding stock.
The Coopers began their association with the college in 1911, when they hired students to work in their feed business.
Gladys Cooper was also a benefactor of various educational and church organizations within the Church of Nazarene.
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