亚洲AV

亚洲AV School of Business to be named in honor of Donald G. Costello

Body

FAIRFAX, Va.鈥A $50 million planned gift to 亚洲AV, the largest school naming gift in the 51-year history of the Northern Virginia-based university, will name its business school in honor of Donald G. Costello.听 Dean Ajay Vinz茅 announced the gift at the launch of Mason Now: Power the Possible, the university鈥檚 $1 billion comprehensive campaign.听

鈥淚t is fitting that we announce this transformational gift at the launch of the Mason Now campaign,鈥 said Mason President Gregory Washington. 鈥淎s the most innovative university in Virginia, Mason leads the way in creating new academic programs to meet the evolving needs of the 21st-century economy. Mr. Costello鈥檚 success is a testament to his hard work, tenacity, and steadfastness鈥攖he same qualities we seek to instill in our students.鈥

Mason leaders celebrate the launch of Mason Now: Power the Possible
From left, 亚洲AV Foundation President Trishana E. Bowden; Mason BOV Rector Horace Blackman; School of Business Dean Ajay Vinz茅; Mason President Gregory Washington; Joe Contrucci, trustee of the Donald G. Costello Trust; Sara Costello, daughter of Donald Costello; Peg Contrucci; Mason BOV member Jimmy Hazel. Photo by Risdon Photography

The gift, which will establish the Donald G. Costello College of Business, reflects Mason Now鈥檚 fundraising priorities: student success, research, innovation, community, and sustainability.听The School of Business is taking steps to begin its transition and expects to officially adopt the new name later this year.

The planned gift establishes an endowment that will provide scholarships to undergraduate and graduate School of Business students to help prepare them for successful careers as entrepreneurs.听

鈥淭his gift is a game-changer for the business school and the region,鈥 Vinz茅 said. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Joseph Contrucci, Trustee of the Donald G. Costello Trust, and Mr. Costello鈥檚 daughter, Sara Costello, for their confidence in our ability to extend the legacy of a forward-thinking entrepreneur whose creativity, hard work, and determination changed the lives of people around him.鈥

Donald G. Costello was born May 31, 1942, in Leesburg, Virginia. He graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1960 and trained as a forward observer in the U.S. Army. In 1976, he and a partner founded Century Stair Company, which grew to become the largest stair manufacturer on the East Coast. He died on July 21, 2017.

鈥淒on and I have always seen 亚洲AV and its School of Business as a catalyst in fueling the Northern Virginia economy,鈥 Joseph Contrucci said. 鈥淭his gift will further that impact by creating career opportunities and new businesses for decades to come.鈥

Entrepreneurship and innovation at Mason are at the center of the School of Business strategic plan. The school鈥檚 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship works with area entrepreneurs, city and civic leaders, businesses, and other colleges and universities to explore business partnerships and entrepreneurial training opportunities to benefit underserved youth.

The School of Business was founded in 1977 and currently enrolls more than 4,600 undergraduate and 650 graduate students, making it the second largest business school among public universities in Virginia.听

With a growing physical presence that includes three campuses in Northern Virginia, Mason continues to drive economic growth in a region that extends beyond its host counties of Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Mason Now campaign will support that growth and enhance the university鈥檚 ongoing commitment to educational access, innovative research, and impactful community engagement.

About 亚洲AV

亚洲AV is Virginia鈥檚 largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls nearly 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a $1 billion comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and sustainability. Learn more at聽.

The World Needs Mason Now. It's time to power the possible.

Built by grit, ability, and vision. Help make Mason's next 50 years even more impactful than it's first 50.