‘Mission Possible’
$1 Million Goal
Reached for New
Science Structure
Chowan College has passed the
$1 million mark in pledges and
gifts in its drive to raise funds for
a new $1.2 million science-
engineering facility.
The announcement was made
Sept. 24 by Don G. Matthews of
Hamilton, general chairman of
the “Mission Possible” cam
paign, at a joint meeting of the
Board of Trustees and Board of
Advisors held in the office of
President Bruce E. Whitaker. He
said that $1,007,000 had been
received in pledges and gifts.
Commented Matthews, “We
are grateful for the public’s
acceptance of our call for
assistance in providing the
critically needed new science-
engineering facility. The person
who will benefit, of course, is the
student. The new building will
help Chowan to continue to offer a
quality education to its stu
dents,” he said.
More Is Needed
Matthews said Chowan had
reached the “publicly announced
goal of $1 million in gifts and
pledges,” but that an additional
approximate $96,000 is needed to
complete the project. He said this
would include landscaping,
parking and lighting. The total
cost of the building equipped is
$1,229,660.72, Matthews noted.
Construction of a new facility
was first recommended by the
Fifth Annual Planning Con
ference in September, 1970. The
conference participants
suggested a campaign to raise
funds to replace the present
science building, Green Hall,
constructed in 1956 for a student
body then numbering 300.
Chowan’s soaring enrollment
during the 1960’s had forced
students to meet in overcrowded
classrooms and laboratories.
In January, 1971, the Board of
Trustees, with M. E. Valentine of
Raleigh serving as chairman,
authorized the campaign. The
response of the administration
was the planning and im
plementation of the Mission
Possible program. Named
chairman was Matthews, then a
trustee and presently chairman
of the Board of Trustees.
The campaign was launched in
September, 1971 with an initial
gift of $100,000 from long-time
supporters, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood
W. Parker of Murfreesboro.
Chowan’s own faculty and staff
pledged $112,000. The Sixth
Annual Planning Conference held
that month, was devoted to in
forming and training the
volunteer leadership concerning
the Mission Possible program.
By late November, Chowan had
reached the halfway mark.
Groundbreaking ceremonies
were held on February 21, 1972.
Chowan’s president called the
occasion “the initial step in a long
cherished dream . . . fulfilling a
critical need.” Dr. Whitaker also
said the groundbreaking was the
result of “hard work expended on
raising funds by many different
people” toward the construction
of the new three-story structure.
At the time of the ceremonies,
some $700,000 in gifts and pledges
had been raised.
Widespread Support
Matthews said support for the
campaign has been widespread.
He said the largest gift has been
the $100,000 from the Parkers.
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foun
dation of Winston-Salem has
made two grants, noted Mat
thews, totaling $70,000. The first
was for $25,000 and the second, a
challenge grant requiring
matching funds, for $45,000.
Meeting this challenge grant has
enabled Chowan to top the $1
million mark, Matthews ex
plained.
Another foundation par
ticipating in the Mission Possible
program was the Belk-Tyler
Foundation. This foundation,
with three of its key executives,
Irwin Belk, then chairman of
Chowan’s Board of Advisors; H.
Douglas White, presently
chairman of the executive
committee of the Board of
Trustees, and former chairman
of the Board of Trustees; and L.
A. Bailey, a Chowan adviosr,
donated funds for the am-
pitheatre. The gift was made in
honor of Arthur L. Tyler, Rocky
Mount businessman. At the time
of his retirement in 1970, Tyler
was chairman of the Board of
Belk Stores Services, Inc. In
honor of Tyler, the ampitheatre
will be named the Arthur L. Tyler
Lecture Hall.
The new building, now nearing
completion, will house the
science and mathematics
departments. The air-conditioned
structure will feature fully
equipped and modern
laboratories, classrooms, storage
and animal rooms, ampithetre
and library-reading room. A
green house is located at the rear
of the building at the ground
level. The facility will provide
Chowan’s students ample space,
for classroom learning,
laboratory experiences, and
individual research.
The ground floor will be used
by the mthematics department.
Animal rooms and the am
pitheatre will also be located on
this floor.
The main floor will be for
biology and feature lacfure
rooms and laboratories. The
third floor is for chemistry and
physics.
Expresses Thanks
Expressing thanks to the
volunteer leadership and donors
was Matthews. “The success of
Chowan College: Mission
Possible development program is
due to the efforts of many people,
pledging, giving, and working.
College trustees, advisors,
faculty, staff, alumni, and
parents have been joined by
churches, corporations and
business firms, foundations, and
many individual friends and
supporters whose pledges and
gifts now exceed one million
dollars,” Matthews said. He
continued, “It has been heart
warming to have so many people
across North Carolina and
Virginia and the nation respond
to the challenge of providing this
critically needed classroom
facility for the young men and
women who come to Chowan. We
are grateful.”
Joining Matthews in ex
pressing thanks to the volunteer
leadership and those supporting
the Mission Possible campaign
was Dr. Whitaker.
GOVERNING BOARD MEETS—Dr.
Bruce E. Whitaker, President, gives a
report to the Board of Trustees and
Board of Advisors in joint session
recently. Announcement was made to
the groups that the “Mission Possible”
campaign had reached its goal of $1
million in pledges and gifts for the new
science-engineering facility which will
be ready for use with the beginning of
the spring semester in January.
Annual Planning Conference
Stresses Need for Support
Participants in Chowan
College’s Eighth Annual Plan
ning Conference, held Sept. 15,
heard college officials emphasize
the need for suppwrt of the day-to-
day operation of the institution.
Following the theme, “The
Heart of our Mission” the con
ference stressed the critical need
for support from the college’s
public to help keep the cost of
attending the private, church-
related institution within the
means of students from average
families in North Carolina and
Virginia.
According to Bobby Cross,
director of development, the
conference represented a
departure from previous ones
which stressed the need for a
specific building. He said the
conference, instead, would mark
the beginning of a program of
annual support for Chowan. “We
must strengthen the overall
program of the college,” he
declared. “This will require
annual giving for the daily
operational costs of the in
stitution,” he said.
The participants were told by
Dr. B. Franklin Lowe Jr., dean of
the college, of the need for a
highly personalized liberal arts
education based on Christian
presuppositions. He also spoke of
the necessary cost involved in
maintaining high academic
standards.
Guy Revelle Jr., Chowan’s
general counsul, stressed the
need for alumni, friends and
supporters to take seriously the
appeals of Chowan and other
institutions to which they are
related.
Expressing optimism of the
future of Chowan College was
President Bruce E. Whitaker, He
challenged those attending the
conference to help translate the
need for annual support and join
him in the work, mission and
program of the college.
“The individual student is at
the heart of our mission — he is
not alone — he is cared for and
supported by people like you and
those who join with you. With
your help, we will not fail,”
.summarized Dr. Whitaker,
For October, 1972
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