Troy university celebrates 125-years of educating. The birthday gala marked the start of troy university's 125th anniversary. However, the theme of the night was not about the accomplishments made by the school over the past century, but...how to make the university better for future students.

The troy shield society is a planned giving donor organization and helps ensure funding to future programs. More than two dozen new members were added to the shield society during the birthday celebration.

"I think, diverse revenue screen not the least of which the revenues from the private sector will become important,” said Troy University Chancellor, Jack Hawkins Jr.

State funding for troy university has dropped to 17 percent, so it's money from private sectors that will continue to make troy grow and go from being a good school to a great one.

"You may not plant the tree under which you sit but you enjoy the shade and these more than almost 5 dozen people have stepped forward and recognizing that it's tomorrow and not today that we'll see the benefit of their giving,” said Hawkins.

In addition to recognizing those who have given back to the campus, Hawkins announced the schools current capital campaign called, "building beyond boundaries.” The goal is to raise $200-million and the university foundation has already reached 75 percent of their goal raising over $160-million so far.

"There won’t be one part of the university that's not touched from athletics to academics and we're seeing people give very generously to scholarships, professorships, and new buildings."

Hawkins says if the foundation stays on track they should reach their 200 million dollar goal in the next 24 months.

Campus officials just announced a donation from the James F. Coleman family that will be used to help construct a college of business building at the Troy-Dothan campus. The building will cost around 7 million dollars and is expected to be over 40,000 square feet.