Oct 29, 2014 04:14 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Buena Vista University in Iowa has received a generous endowment gift of $2.7 million from agribusiness entrepreneur Harry Stine and his wife Molly for the university's School of Science.

The Stine Endowment gift, which was established in support of the school's recent five-year capital campaign, See Tomorrow: The Campaign for Buena Vista University, has raised more than $30 million and exceeded the original $27.5 million goal.

"This endowment allows us to significantly expand opportunities for our School of Science students, taking a fantastic program and making it even better. It is through significant transformative gifts like this that our academic programs can advance from good to great, and from great to exceptional," BVU President Fred Moore said in a statement. "The Stine Endowment gives our students the opportunity to dream big and enables our faculty to advance our science program to the next level of excellence."

The endowment is intended to promote, support and expand high-impact educational practices and enriched learning opportunities for students in the BVU School of Science. Specifically, the endowment will support joint student and faculty research, presentation of research findings at regional and national professional conferences, student internships, student research opportunities on campus and at institutions nationwide and innovation in the delivery of the science curriculum.

"Education has been extremely important in the history of our country and to the Midwest in particular. While education is widespread today, it's also important that students understand how the world works," Stine said. "Molly and I are extremely pleased to support Buena Vista University's science program and give students access to additional knowledge and experiences. We are thankful for the opportunity to help generations understand the importance that science plays in our world."

The Stine Chair will be responsible for overseeing the use of the endowment and, along with support from a committee of three additional faculty members from the School of Science and the school dean, will be charged with developing and promoting opportunities that support the goals of the Stine Endowment.

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit