Milligan College's capital campaign surging

By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com

   Little Milligan College has recently completed extensive renovation projects. After it kicked off its Campaign for Christian Leadership last spring, the college has been the midst of a whirlwind of improvements.
   The Milligan College Campaign for Christian Leadership was presented as a means of fulfilling the institution's vision statement as well as its long-rang funding initiatives. It is a sizable comprehensive campaign with $30 million set as a goal.
   As a first phase of the central campus project under the campaign, Derthick Hall was the first to receive an overhaul. Construction got under way on the facility the day after graduation in May and was completed for the return of students in the fall. The $2.5 million project revamped the structure's interior and exterior and changed its roofline. The academic building is now entirely wired for technology.
   The Faculty Office Center has also experienced some growth of its own. A 3,000 square foot addition has been completed at the college.
   The development of the Commons and a new Campus Center will round out the Central Campus Project. The projects are estimated to cost between $12 and $15 million and are expected to complement the college's steady growth in enrollment.
   A student center, theatre, and welcome area will be part of the four-story Campus Center. There will be a bookstore, wellness center, dining area, kitchen and photography dark rooms in the left wing of the student center. Students can utilize the space in the right wing of the student center for student government needs as well as other student services.
   The theatre will be located on the mail level of the new facility and will house nearly 300 people. It will be complete with costume and dressing rooms, workshop, storage and rehearsal areas.
   Other long range structural improvements include resident hall refurbishing, additional classroom space, library expansion, athletic facilities and the development of energy management systems.
   Academic improvements will go hand in hand with structural renovations and innovative fund-raising techniques. Milligan College will focus on promoting Christian leadership and service in the community. It is the institution's goal that all Liberal Arts degrees be used as platforms for Christian service. The campaign will do so by providing new majors and degree programs, student development, spiritual life and student success, scholarship and technology initiatives.
   The financial portion of the campaign consists of two parts. New endowed scholarships will be developed for the future and already existing scholarships and programs will be reworked.