At this very moment, OBU nursing majors are enjoying their first taste of life in the new nursing education center – Stavros Hall. They are experiencing firsthand the investment you made in their education. More than 600 donors made gifts toward the new facility, technology and equipment. These gifts ranged from $3.00 to $3 million, a reminder to all of us on Bison Hill that EVERY gift, no matter the size, matters! As we celebrate the official opening and dedication of Stavros Hall, we pause to give thanks for God’s blessing.
Just as gifts of all amounts made Stavros Hall a reality, the same is needed as OBU continues to push toward the completion of the second phase of the Vision for a New Century Capital Campaign. Having surpassed the original $42 million goal more than a year early, the Board of Trustees challenged OBU to raise an additional $18 million by December 2018. Since that time, alumni and friends have gifted $2 million toward three significant projects.
Ford Music Hall will undergo a $1.4 million renovation in order to faithfully serve the next generation of music students and faculty. Perhaps most important and the largest portion of the project cost will be the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system that will address both humidity and noise issues. A new roof, new windows, interior updates and a keyless card access entry system will complete this renovation.
A rebuild of Wood Science Building will make room for students pouring into the fastest growing college on campus–the James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics. Classrooms and lab spaces will address overcrowding issues as well as set the stage for OBU to launch mechanical and electrical engineering in the near future. As a leader in the math and sciences, this investment will position OBU at the forefront of
influence and excellence in STEM education.
The campus master plan calls for a Student Services Center to be constructed just north of Raley Chapel. This welcome center and campus hub will make room for other academic programs to be housed in Thurmond Hall on the Oval and will establish the intersection of Raley Drive and MacArthur as the main entrance to the campus.
Plans are also in place to replace the roof on Raley Chapel in Summer 2016. About 42,000 red clay tiles will be arriving in the next couple of months for this massive replacement project. Each tile costs $20, with an estimated cost of more than $800,000 for the entire project. Gifts of any size are welcome to “Revive the Roof” at okbu.edu/giving.
Beginning in 2016, the Office of University Advancement will launch an effort as part of OBU’s GREEN initiatives to enhance stewardship and conservation by delivering all gift receipts via email. By going paperless, the reduction of costs for paper, printing and postage allows OBU to focus more dollars on students than operations. To help us achieve our goal, share your email at development@okbu.edu or 405.585.5412.
Finally, let me encourage you to be a part of OBU’s Fourth Annual Green and Gold Gala featuring legendary coach Lou Holtz on March 1, 2016. By purchasing tickets or sponsoring a table, you provide funding to support OBU’s General Endowed Scholarship Fund. To find out more about the evening and to buy tickets, please visit okbu.edu/gala.