FSU Board of Visitors rally to secure $17,000 for students facing financial hurdles
By Staff Report, posted Mar 25, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com
Fayetteville State University announced that its Board of Visitors raised $17,000 for the Broncos Helping Broncos campaign. The total exceeded the original target to expand emergency support and scholarships for students facing financial barriers to graduation.
“This campaign is a powerful example of what happens when leadership turns commitment into action, and so my sincerest thanks to our FSU Board of Visitors,” said Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell T. Allison in a press release. “We identified a critical gap in student funding and executed a plan that delivers measurable results. Thus, this fundraiser speaks directly to the heart of our mission and to the kind of community we continue to build at Fayetteville State.”
Raised entirely through the collective contributions of board members, the campaign provides immediate capital to students navigating a wide range of unexpected hardships. This fund serves as a vital supplement to the university’s standard financial aid and scholarship programs, specifically targeting non-academic emergencies that threaten to disrupt a student's progress. Omar Bell, vice chancellor for University Advancement, said the Broncos Helping Broncos Student Emergency Fund helps students secure the path to graduation by covering critical costs such as housing, medical emergencies, food insecurity and transportation.
This year alone, the fund has helped more than 100 students, with an average of $450 per student. Bell noted that for students from Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, which represent the state’s most economically distressed areas, even a small, unforeseen expense can be an insurmountable barrier to continuing their education.
This achievement began with an initiative launched Sept. 30, 2025, by Board of Visitors Chair Dr. Roxie Wells. While the initial goal was $10,000, board members had raised $8,300 leading up to the meeting. Wells and her husband, Reginald, then presented a $5,000 matching gift, bringing the total to $13,300. After the announcement, additional board members pledged on the spot to make further contributions, bringing the final total to $17,000.
“The Board of Visitors wanted to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible impact,” Wells said in a press release. “Broncos Helping Broncos student emergency fund is about operationalizing our commitment to the university family. Every dollar represents a high-value investment in the future of our students and the long-term success of this institution.”
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