OSU’s plans for a performing arts center received a major boost with a $25 million gift announced Wednesday, March 30, 2016 from alumni Ross and Billie McKnight to establish an endowment to support programming. The gift will expand the number and type of educational and cultural opportunities by featuring national and international performing arts productions and artists in the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Stillwater. The center is expected to open in 2019.