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Hy Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker
The tenets of our great American tradition
are incumbent upon us to celebrate and com
memorate two significant and meaningful “holi
day days”—Thanksgiving and Christmas—within
a brief period of only four weeks. Actually, these
historic and symbolic celebrations have tended to
be marked only by an altitude of benevolence
and good cheer.
Take Thanksgiving, for instance. Traditionally
it is a lime for giving thanks for the things ive
receive. But it is really a lime to be thankful for
what ive are able to give. Ponder this year, I
suggest, the meaning of the GIVING in Thanks
giving, while remembering at the same time that
our thanks is for the most beautiful and bounti
ful harvests any nation has enjoyed in the history
of the world.
The true meaning of Christmas, on the other
hand, is centered in the Incarnation, which is the
union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ
who is both God and man at the same time. God,
himself, came in Jesus of Nazareth as the re
velation of Himself to man. Unless, therefore,
we delve deeply beneath the surface of the cul
tural-commercial aspects of both the Thanksgiving
and Christmas seasons, we make a mockery of
both. To me, Christmas is made more meaningful
ivhen homogenized with a true spirit of Thanks
giving.
Veiled in the good obsessive spirit of Thanks
giving and Christmas, many of us are reflecting
upon the progress, growth and service of Chowan
(College as an institution of Christian higher edu
cation. It is filling that students, faculty, alumni,
and a host of friends of Chowan College reflect
upon the heritage of this 115 year old institution.
If'e are thankful for the College and especially
at this time of the year. So many friends have
and are expressing concretely their interest and
support. Multitudinous blessings have been ours.
Chowan is accredited by the Southern Associa
tion of Colleges and Schools, our regional ac
crediting agency, and by the North Carolina
C.ollcge Conference. It is a member of the Ameri
can Association of Junior Colleges, the Council
of Protestant Colleges and Universities, and the
American Council on Education. It is one of
seven proud institutions of higher learning which
are owned and operated by the Baptist State Con
vention of North Carolina.
Since the fall of 1957, when the college opened
ivith a total of 299 students, Chowan has had
phenomenal percentage growth in student popula
tion. In September of this year we opened with
886 regular students. Additional part-time and
special students brought the number to a total of
967, by far the largest enrollment in the history
of the college. During this same period of time,
the plant evaluation has increased from less than
$1,000,000 to well over $3,000,000. And we are
still growing.
I never cease to be grateful for the expressed
interest and confidence of the many friends of
Chowan College who are giving more money each
year to its development program. Though our
income from all sources has not kept pace with
our needs, remarkable progress has been made.
In September we began the use of a new 216-bed
dormitory for men, a modern structure which is
fully air conditioned. During the summer, through
the generosity of Mr. J. Henry Jones of Red Oak,
we were able to construct a handsome new drive
way with parking facilities located between it
and the old drive which now serves as a walkway.
At the moment we are involved in the landscaping
of the campus which will compliment the new
drive. Mr. John 0. Askew, III, of Harrellsville,
has graciously provided funds for an appropriate
new entrance to the campus. The entrance is
lighted at night reflecting the name and founding
date (1848) of the college. Miss D. Emily Barnes
is currently making possible the installation of an
electric Carillon bell system, an appropriate and
welcome addition to the campus. With the leader
ship of Coach James Garrison and with the help
of many friends of the college, we were able to
construct a new athletic field which was used for
the first time this fall.
Two significant gifts were received in Novem
ber. From the estate of the late Charles H. Jenkins
of Ahoskie, Chowan received approximately
$60,000.00 designated for General Endowment.
Only the income from these funds will be used
for the operating purposes of the college through
the years to come. The other, and largest gift in
the history of the college, was made by Mrs.
Texie Camp Marks of Boykins, Virginia, and by
her three children—Mr. Paul Camp Marks, Mrs.
helix Arnold and Mr. Robert F. Marks, Jr. The
Board of Trustees has a policy whereby, donors
who provide at least 51 % of the contract price
of a given building may designate the name. The
classroom building, which will be named “Robert
Marks Hall”, is scheduled to be completed in
March, and will cost more than $405,000.00.
Many other un-named donors have made and are
making un-heralded or un-named gifts tvhich
mean as much and are appreciated as much as
those to which publicity has been given.
Moreover, a thing of tremendous satisfaction to
me, personally, is that we enjoy an enviable spirit
and morale within the college family on the part
of the faculty, students and staff members. It is
obvious, even to an “outsider” that our people
enjoy living, working and playing together. This
means that the atmosphere on our campus is con
ducive to learning and growth on all levels.
I am sure that the entire Choivan College
family joins me in readily and heartily affirming
that Chowan College has reason to rejoice during
the approaching Christmas season. My heart is
filled with Thanksgiving for the privilege of
living and ivorking at this beloved and growing
institution and for the revelation of God in Christ
who sustains us and provides strength for our
daily and even hourly decisions and responsibili
ties involving the welfare of Chowan College as
a vital factor in the Kingdom enterprise.