The campaign to raise funds for capital improvements, scholarships, academic programs, operations, and the endowment launched publicly in 2006 with an original goal of raising $65 million. In September of 2008, the MC board of trustees voted unanimously to raise the goal to an ambitious $80 million, largely due to the confidence and leadership of MC alumnus, trustee, and president of the MC Foundation board of directors Don Phillips ’54, who chaired the campaign steering committee, and Leland Speed, longtime member of the MC board of trustees and the “Growing the Vision” campaign chairman.
“Having respected business and community leaders of the caliber of Leland Speed and Don Phillips leading the campaign attracted significant interest and made people want to get involved,” says MC President Dr. Lee Royce. “Don Phillips was especially invaluable in motivating the members of the steering committee. At critical points in the campaign, Don came up with new strategies to keep things moving forward. He never let the committee forget that while our goal was $80 million, his personal benchmark for the campaign was $85 million. In all of my experience in college fund-raising, I have never worked with anyone who was more attentive or effective than Don Phillips in leading the way.”
“There are just so many good things going on at MC that I felt other people might want to be a part of, not just through raising money, but through getting involved in planning for MC’s future,” Phillips says. “My greatest pleasure came from working with the MC staff and the MC family of supporters. The can-do spirit of the people at MC and the feeling of success we all shared have been the most memorable parts of the experience.”
“I was very proud to be a part of this effort,” Leland Speed agrees. “I consider MC something special in this secular world. It’s refreshing to see an institution that describes itself first as a Christian university. There is a huge need in our community, our state, and our country for the philosophy that MC stands for. And as far as delivering value, I believe the rest of higher education in America could learn from Mississippi College.”
“The most memorable part of ‘Growing the Vision’ was meeting so many members of the MC family. It’s important to note that the vast majority of our supporters were individuals who made small donations. Obviously, it’s nice to receive a large donation from a benefactor who is able to support MC at a high level, but we could not have met our goal without the generosity of thousands of people who gave smaller, but equally heartfelt gifts. To everyone who supported ‘Growing the Vision,’ thank you.” — Dr. Lee Royce
A $1 million renovation of Self Hall, home of the School of Business, including new classrooms, equipment, and a lecture hall made possible through gifts from many donors, including J. L. Holloway, Ed Trehern, Eddie Kinchen, Tony Huffman, and John Brock III
Renovations to Aven Hall, including music practice rooms, new instruments and equipment, and a complete remodeling of the performance auditorium, which was renamed the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall in honor of its primary benefactor
The construction of the Samuel Marshall Gore Galleries, a spacious, modern facility in which student and professional artists can display their works
New research labs in the Hederman Science Building, including the Snazelle Microbiology Lab donated by trustee Dr. Sharon Martin and named in honor of Dr. Ted Snazelle, professor of biology
A renovation to the Leland Speed Library that transformed the library into a gathering area for students
Renovations to Lowrey Hall, home of the School of Education
Athletic facility improvements, including a new scoreboard, entrance, and synthetic turf installed at Robinson-Hale Stadium; a new track built with generous donations from Dr. Jim Parkman and his son, Jim Parkman, Jr.; renovations to the cross-country course funded by trustee Robert Watson; renovations to the A.E. Wood Coliseum, including the Quick Rebounders Room, named in honor of Doc and Shelley Quick, and a new basketball court named in honor of athletic director and former coach Mike Jones; new soccer fields named for major benefactor Robert Longabaugh, father of MC women’s soccer coach Darryl Longabaugh; and a new soccer field house provided by alumnus Robert G. W. Girling III
A significant renovation to the campus cafeteria, which was renamed the Ray and Betty Hannah Food Court in recognition of its donors
Several improvements to Alumni Hall, including an expansion of the M Club Room made possible with the help of donor, alumnus, and steering committee chair Don Phillips; a board room renovation funded by Billy Joe and Robbie Cross; and improvements to the third floor reception area made possible through a gift from Betty Jean Dowdle
The construction of two new buildings and multiple enhancements to the MC Law campus in downtown Jackson funded by generous donors including MC Law alumni Jeb Jeutter, Hunter Lundy, Dennis Miller, and Sam Millette, and Jackson law firms including Butler Snow, Watkins & Eager, and Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis
Several campus beautification projects, from landscaping to the installation of two new sculptures by Dr. Samuel Gore, “Jesus the Servant Savior” and “Jesus and the Children,” in the Quad
The launch of Mississippi’s first and only physician assistant program
More than $1 million raised for scholarships through the annual Spring Scholarship Banquets
The launch of a new faith in business lecture series made possible through a gift from alumnus Don Jordan
While the “Growing the Vision” campaign has concluded, there are still several exciting projects in the works at MC. Projects planned for 2012 include the construction of a new medical sciences building adjacent to Hederman Hall, a new campus bookstore, and new student gathering space in Alumni Hall.
“I’ve always liked a challenge. Every time the $80 million goal was mentioned, I’d say, ‘But my personal goal is $85 million.’ I guess I’m just an optimistic kind of guy, but it’s been my experience that we can usually do better than we originally think we can. I was
happy to be a part of the campaign, but all of the credit for its success goes to God.”
— Don Phillips ’54, Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee
“I am exhilarated by what’s happening at MC now. Our job is to continue that momentum. We have an opportunity to invite friends and potential friends of MC to come out and visit, to see and feel the energy and the growth. It’s not a question of ‘Are we going to grow and succeed?’ It’s a question of ‘How fast?’”
— Leland Speed, Chair of the “Growing the Vision” Campaign
