MLPA Successfully Concludes Chris Upp Memorial Endowment Fund Campaign

The Missouri Limestone Producers Association (MLPA) announced the successful conclusion of its campaign to establish the Chris Upp Memorial Endowment Fund, surpassing initial goals and establishing a lasting legacy honoring Upp’s leadership in the mining industry. 

The goal of establishing a fund with more than $300,000 has been met by combining raised funds with a preexisting endowment that Chris Upp managed for years, the “Aggregate Industry-University of Missouri-Rolla Scholarship Foundation Inc. Capacity Building Fund.”

Key Campaign Highlights:

  • Exceeded the Year 1 fundraising goal of $150,000.
  • Will provide up to $12,000 in annual scholarships to Missouri S&T students studying Geology, Mining Engineering or Explosives Engineering.
  • Merged efforts with the pre-existing “Aggregate Industry-University of Missouri-Rolla.
  • Scholarship Foundation Inc. Capacity Building Fund” to create the new “Chris Upp Memorial Endowment Fund” with more than $350,000 set aside for scholarships.
  • MLPA will collaborate with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to manage the new fund.

“This overwhelming response reflects the deep respect our industry held for Chris Upp and our commitment to nurturing future talent,” said Chris Williams, MLPA President. “Chris cared deeply about the next generation of miners and leaders and this is the perfect way to honor the lasting impact he had on all of us.”

Some details on Chris Upp: A Life of Service and Leadership:

  • Born August 31, 1973, in Springfield, Mo.
  • Graduated from Missouri S&T (then University of Missouri-Rolla) in 1996.
  • Dedicated 27 years to Conco Quarries.
  • Served as MLPA President in 2015.
  • 20-year member of the MLPA Scholarship Foundation. Chair of the NSSGA Young Leaders Committee.
  • Member of Campbell United Methodist Church for over 30 years.

“Chris was not just an industry leader but a devoted family man and community pillar,” said Jerry Enyeart, chair of the MLPA Scholarship Foundation “This endowment honors his commitment to education, his alma mater and our industry.”

The Chris Upp Memorial Endowment will provide scholarships to Missouri S&T students studying Geology, Mining Engineering, or Explosives Engineering, ensuring ongoing support for students entering the construction aggregates industry and honoring Chris’s legacy.

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