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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (October 24, 2009) – Seeking to honor its history and prepare for the future, Milligan College has launched “FORWARD EVER: The Campaign for Milligan College.” This $25 million capital campaign will allow Milligan to meet its expanding needs during a time of growth and unparalleled opportunity.
President Donald Jeanes announced the capital campaign to Milligan alumni and friends at the college’s annual Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 24. Former president Marshall Leggett was also present for the announcement.
“Today, our mission remains vital, and the world is calling out for Milligan to have an even greater impact,” Jeanes said. “In order to meet this need, it is imperative that we continue to grow.”
The purpose of the FORWARD EVER campaign is to enrich the student experience at Milligan by improving the quality and efficiency of the campus facilities, providing essential scholarship support and increasing the endowment so that the college’s financial future will be even more secure.
To meet those purposes, the campaign is divided into three initiatives: scholarship, community and wellness.
Funding priorities for the initiative for scholarship include renovation of the P.H. Welshimer Library, the Annual Scholarship Fund, increased endowment, and new and enhanced academic programs. These projects total $16.5 million.
The initiative for community includes improvements to a men’s dormitory, Webb Hall; campus infrastructure; and the recently completed renovation of McCormick Dining Center. These initiatives total $5 million.
Finally, the wellness initiative includes the construction of the Gilliam Wellness Center, a 7,100-square-foot student wellness facility to be completed this spring. The Wellness Center will contain a student recreation area, cardiovascular equipment, strength circuit and free weights, and two classroom areas for aerobics and fitness areas. Also included in the wellness initiative are upgrades to Lacy Fieldhouse, construction of a tennis clubhouse and other improvements to athletic fields and facilities. The wellness initiatives total $3.5 million.
Milligan has already raised $17 million, or 68 percent of its goal, during the silent phase of the campaign.
Through these funds, several projects have already been completed or started, including the dining center renovations, an improved campus entrance, the formation of new scholarships and the Wellness Center currently under construction. Other improvements include updated lecture halls, the renovation of the Paxson Communications Center and the newly completed Citizens Bank Athletic Training Center in Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
“It is most gratifying to look upon Milligan and see that the college has continued to grow, improve and reach new levels,” said Leggett, who served as Milligan’s president from 1982 to 1997. “The consistent, generous support of alumni and friends has made it possible for Milligan to fulfill its mission to a greater degree than ever before.”
The campaign theme, FORWARD EVER, originates from the lyrics to Milligan’s alma mater.
“As the college prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016, FORWARD EVER is a reminder of the college’s rich heritage and promising future,” said Bill Greer, vice president for institutional advancement.
“When you look back at the span of Milligan history, you can always see God’s hand,” Greer said.
“God has always brought the right people and the right resources to move the college forward. So we are using this campaign as a time of reflection on our heritage, even as we prepare to move forward.”
For more information about how to participate in “FORWARD EVER: The Campaign for Milligan College,” please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 800.447.5922 or visitwww.milligan.edu/advancement.