TransCentury Limited, an investment and private equity firm on Friday, 10th December donated KShs25 million to Strathmore Business School (SBS) towards the building of an auditorium in the SBS complex that is under construction.

The donation was presented by the CEO of TransCentury Limited Dr Gachao Kiuna and received by the University Secretary, Dr Charles Sotz; the Dean of SBS, Dr Edward Mungai; and the SBS Fundraising Manager, Mr Stephen Ananda.

The graduating class of 2010 left a legacy by seizing the Phase III moment! It was the first graduating class in the University's history to part with some or all of their due caution money in support of the University's development.

This contemporary practice referred to as the Senior Class Gift, is a legacy leaving approach in philanthropy. It is a great manifestation of altruistic ideals that involve young people giving what is very dear to them at a very crucial time in their life.

The modes of giving vary with the interests of the final year students. They could chose to give by forfeiting caution money, donate cash or even do a fundraising drive that may involve soliciting from other individuals (family & friends), corporates and foundations. A particular facility in the University that equals the amount raised could then be named for the class.

Every year, thousands of students graduate from colleges and universities armed with qualifications that proclaim they are fit to be business executives in the corporate world. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding increase in the number of businesses that can competitively attract and retain the graduates. The result: joblessness and young professionals settling in careers they have little or no interest in.

With the mission of playing a part in the University’s vision of being a leading entrepreneurial university in the region, the University’s Student Enterprise Program (SEP) partnered with Linking Business to Life Initiative for an afternoon session on 23rd July 2010 where the students were given talks on starting and growing their own businesses.

Alumnus Oscar Kimani, a young entrepreneur with interests in tourism and information technology and the co-founder of Linking Business to Life Initiative addressed the students, sharing with the budding entrepreneurs lessons he has learnt from running his three year old businesses. Success as an entrepreneur depends on the ability to clearly identify a market need, and to creatively satisfy it with passion that reaches to the heart of the customer.

Chase Bank on Thursday, 20th May donated Kshs22 million to Strathmore Business School for the construction of a library in the new SBS building which is part of the University's Phase III of development. The cheque was presented by the bank's CEO Mr Duncan Kabui to the Dean of SBS Dr Edward Mungai and the University's Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning and Development) Dr Charles Sotz.

Mr Kibui said his institution was proud to be associated with the developments Strathmore was undertaking. “We are a young and growing institution and we feel highly honored to partner with SBS in transforming Africa,” he said.

“The green technology adopted here is a noble way of energy saving and environmental conservation and we are happy to be part of it,” he added.

Phase III is designed in adherence with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification which is a "Green Building" Rating System of the USA . It is a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

Dr Sotz welcomed the bank's support. He said the bank's move to be associated with the library which is at the heart of learning institution shows the readiness African institutions are willing to work together to transform the continent.

Mzima Springs Sacco Ltd, a savings and credit union made up of members of University staff gave a Kshs50,000 contribution to the University. The Sacco draws its 350 members from the University, Strathmore and Kianda schools among others.

Mr Geoffrey Injeni, the Chairman of the Sacco said that it has been contributing to the scholarship funds of the three institutions that contribute the bulk of its members over the past four years. This year, the Sacco had a budget of Kshs100,000 which was shared by the three large institutions with the University getting half of the amount.

Kshs40,000 will go to the University's scholarship fund and Kshs10,000 to the Phase III development project. Kshs30,000 and Kshs20, 000 went to the scholarship funds of Strathmore School and Kianda School respectively.

Ndwiga, Patrick Kinyua (DBIT 3); Atlanta Munyite (BBIT 1); Cynthia Wairimu (BCOM 1); Jane Wanza (BBIT 2); and Pauline Njeri (BBIT 3) were in that order ranked first to fifth in the 'Strathmore Transforming Africa through leadership' essay competition that ran in November last year.

In his essay, Ndwiga describes the University as one of the most ideal places where one is molded in an all-round manner, the rendezvous for the next African-transforming leaders.

Atlanta was proverbial. She started her essay thus: "If someone offered to give you a dress," an African proverb goes, "first look at how they are dressed." I want to be a leader and I chose to be taught by a leader. Strathmore University is an eminent leader: it has an impressive and vast potential to transform Kenya as well as Africa.

Cynthia wrote that Strathmore is an emerging lighthouse of Kenya - the hub and the heart of university education. She echoes unity, "That all may be one."