ANDERSON, Ind. — Anderson University just got a $2.5 million donation.
The gift is from Jay and Nancy Ricker, the former owners of Ricker's convenience stores. It's the family's third major donation to the university in three years.
The funding will go toward expanding the school's cybersecurity program and student scholarships, but school leaders are still working out exactly how the money will be distributed.
”We are honored and humbled by Jay and Nancy’s generous investment in the life of AU,” said Anderson University President John S. Pistole. “Their gift will help students lead informed and transformative lives impacting their worlds, just as Jay and Nancy have done in such significant ways.”
The Rickers founded Ricker Oil Co. in 1979 in Middletown. They moved their headquarters to Anderson, and at one point, employed almost 1,000 people. They sold the company in 2018.
(Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove an erroneous reference to a previous fundraising campaign at Anderson University.)