(KAIR)--A $300,000 grant is received by Atchison's Benedictine College, earmarked to be put toward the completion of the college's science and engineering building.

According to a news release, the funds were granted by the Sunderland Foundation, of Overland Park.

It's the sixth capital project on the campus of Benedictine College supported by the foundation.

College president Steve Minnis says the college is “excited and honored” to see the latest investment, calling the latest grant the largest gift the foundation has given to the college. He says that “demonstrates their commitment to education and the benefits they see in supporting a liberal arts college with an impressive reputation in the sciences and engineering.”

The $25 million Westerman Hall project is the largest capital project in the history of the college.

The press release states that once renovation and construction are complete, the resulting 100,000 square-foot structure “will be one of the best STEM facilities of any small college in America.”

Westerman Hall was originally built in 1964 and houses the college’s astronomy, biology, chemistry & biochemistry, computer science, engineering and mathematics departments.

As part of its strategic plan, Benedictine 2020, Benedictine College faculty, staff, administration and trustees identified the renovation and expansion of Westerman Hall as a key to the school’s future.

Construction of the first phase began in fall 2016.

For more than seven decades, the Sunderland Foundation has focused on supporting bricks and mortar projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region.

Past gifts to Benedictine College from the foundation have gone toward the completion of the Student Union, the renovation of Elizabeth Hall and the Haverty Center, and construction of the state-of-the-art Ferrell Academic Center.