Several hundred people who count themselves as Cornellians ended Friday night with flashing Cornell medallions swinging from their necks, dancing in the expanse of Barton Hall as colorful streamers and confetti fell at their feet.

The evening was the celebratory capstone ushering in Cornell's $4 billion capital campaign -- the university's most ambitious to date. The celebration followed the official launch of the campaign Thursday morning at Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan.

It seemed that no administrator, trustee, faculty member or alumnus who attended Friday's cocktail hour and dinner doubted Cornell would reach its five-year, $4 billion goal. Alumni and friends of the university cheered President David Skorton and campaign co-chairs Jan Zubrow, Bob Appel and Stephen Ashley as they greeted their guests, and as Skorton gave a toast.

"To our great Cornell," Skorton said, glass held high. "Unique among the world's research universities and its commitment to excellence. To egalitarian and world-changing education, discoveries and service. And to our campaign, which will carry us far above. To Cornell."

As invited guests mingled during the pre-dinner cocktails, six screens flashed images of Cornell -- smiling students at sporting events, faculty hunched over research benches, and lush scenic glances of Ithaca.

"This is a great work of art all on its own," said Frank Robinson, director of Cornell's Johnson Museum.

A key piece of the campaign theme, "Far Above…", is to increase research collaboration between Cornell's Ithaca campus and the New York City medical college, a message often repeated by Skorton and other university officials. The campaign's broad goals are increasing student financial aid opportunities, recruiting the next generation of faculty, and building and maintaining facilities.

Addressing the audience after dinner from a small, raised stage, Skorton lauded the Cornell community, particularly its generous alumni, exhorting them to continue to build up Cornell.

Pushing the point home, Skorton asked first campaign officials, then senior academic leadership, followed by staff, faculty and students, to join him on stage, with people spilling off the sides as rousing music grew louder.

"But wait," Skorton said, as silence fell. "Stop everything. There is one very important member of the team missing. And that's you. Cornell's future is about all of us."

He then asked all to join him in a celebration that morphed into a jubilant crowd of dancers.