MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (October 27, 2017)—Milligan College launched this year’s Homecoming festivities by announcing the completion of the largest fundraising initiative in the college’s 150-year history, the second phase of the “Forward Ever” campaign, raising nearly $42 million. President Dr. Bill Greer made the announcement during the annual “Celebrate Milligan” dinner, which honors distinguished alumni.
“This is an incredible milestone for Milligan and one that will pave the way for future generations who want a high quality education at a premier Christian liberal arts college,” said Greer. “I want to thank the nearly 3,000 individuals, churches, corporations and foundations who invest in our students each year. Their support keeps Milligan moving ‘Forward Ever.’”
Since 2008, the college has raised almost $70 million for its endowment, scholarships, academic support, new programs, campus infrastructure and student housing as part of the two-phased Forward Ever Campaign, exceeding its goal by nearly $5 million. The first phase of the campaign, completed in 2011, raised over $28 million.
The second phase of Forward Ever improved Milligan’s physical infrastructure and added new academic and spiritual programs, focusing on the core pillars of Milligan’s mission: scholarship, community and faith.
Major accomplishments include Emmanuel Christian Seminary becoming part of Milligan; endowment growth; addition of nearly a dozen new programs, including mechanical and electrical engineering, a doctorate in education and a physician assistant program; the college being named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction; and construction of five new residence halls.
“I count it as a great honor to serve as a Milligan College trustee and to have seen the college make such tremendous progress over its long and rich history,” said William B. Greene, Jr., chair of BancTenn Corporation. “It is most gratifying to see this campaign’s success, which has positioned Milligan to continue its legacy of being among the best private colleges in the country.”
Because of Greene’s generosity to the college, Milligan named the William B. Greene, Jr. School of Business and Technology in his honor during its academic restructuring, which also was part of the second phase of Forward Ever.