Williamsburg—When University of the Cumberlands President Jim Taylor presented Marion Forcht the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University’s annual Honors Day April 21, he did not expect to receive something in return—especially a gift of $1 million for the new Regina and Ward Correll Science Building, now under construction at the Williamsburg campus.

Forcht, of Corbin, received the honorary degree from Cumberlands in recognition of her many business, community and philanthropic achievements. As she accepted the award, Forcht expressed her respect and admiration for University of the Cumberlands, saying, “It stands up for what it believes.” She then surprised Taylor with a check on behalf of the Forcht family and Forcht Group of Kentucky, of which she is controlling co-owner, along with her husband, Terry. “This gift is to help (Cumberlands) grow and stand and do all the things it has always done,” she said.

Taylor admitted to being “speechless,” but he did say that what students pay at Cumberlands does not begin to cover the cost of educating them. “Without friends like you, I don’t know what we would do. May God bless you,” Taylor told Forcht and her family.

The school’s new science complex will consist of the current science building, which received extensive renovations in 2005, as well as a new building with technology-equipped classrooms, lecture halls and office space, culminating in a 78,000 square-foot center for scientific studies. The $8 million project is expected to be completed and ready for classes by the beginning of the spring semester in 2009.