A Kennesaw State University alumnus donated $2.5 million in support for the baseball program, recording as the largest one-time single donation to the KSU Department of Athletics.
Mickey Dunn, a graduate of KSU, committed $2.5 million to the KSU Department of Athletics on Sept. 15. Dunn is the president and CEO of ML Industries, a leading manufacturer of items such as airbags and automobile seat covers.
“Anyone that is in a position where they make money should give money back,” Dunn said.”I think this donation will carry a lot of weight for many years to come. I think a lot of athletes will be affected by this in a positive manner.”
The KSU baseball program has yet to decide what the donation will be specifically used for.
Mike Sansing, head coach of the KSU baseball team, expects that the donation will help the KSU Owls “reach the next level.”
“Right now we are just celebrating the generosity of the Dunn family and we are really appreciative of what they’ve done,” Sansing said.”I think there will be opportunity to do some big things with that gift in terms of the future. I feel very optimistic about what will happen for our program and our players.”
Since the program’s inception, the KSU baseball team has earned two national championships, eight regular-season titles and made 20 postseason appearances, which include advancing to the 2014 NCAA Division I Super Regional.
Coach Sansing said he and Mr. Dunn initially met through the former athletic director at Southern Polytechnic State University when Sansing was the assistant coach.
After his baseball career with the Hornets, from 1978-81, Dunn was inducted into the Southern Polytechnic State University Hall of Fame in 2015, a wing of the KSU Athletics Hall of Fame, when he earned all-conference and all-district honors.
Dunn said his opportunity to play four years of college baseball had a tremendous effect on his confidence as a student-athlete and it helped him become the successful entrepreneur he is today.
“I dedicated my whole four years to being the best I could possibly be,” Dunn said.
Dunn recently returned to KSU to complete the requirements for his degree at the age of 58, after only needing 13 more credit hours. Dunn completed his degree this summer and plans to participate in the fall graduation ceremony this upcoming December.
“Getting my degree is one of the most impactful things that has happened in my life,” Dunn said. “I’m very proud to be a graduate of Kennesaw State University.”