Parmer Cinema |
As a high-school student and aspiring film director, Joel Dawson ’08 toured colleges primarily to find a high-quality film program. During his visit to Messiah College, he was drawn to the faculty’s clear vision for teaching film and to the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
“Professor Christopher Simmons expressed a specific vision for the film program as a European workshop approach, where the students would be mentored by the faculty,” says the Messiah sophomore communications major. “And then he showed
me Parmer Cinema”—a 140-seat movie theater located in Boyer Hall—appointed with some of the finest technology available. “Parmer was definitely a factor in my choosing to attend Messiah,” adds Dawson, who this semester spends up to 12 hours each week in the cinema, viewing films for class and working as a film projectionist.
A main attraction for film students such as Dawson and a resource for all students and community members, Parmer Cinema opened in 2003 —one of the many resources of Boyer Hall, the new 95,000-square-foot academic building that presents scenic views of campus from its high-tech classrooms and spacious sunlit alcoves. These facilities offer students the latest and best in educational resources and technology. And, in addition to an array of other educational resources, programs, and scholarships designed specifically to enhance students’ education, these facilities are among the key outcomes of
To Serve & To Lead: The Campaign for Student Enrichment at Messiah College—the College’s recently completed, five-year fundraising campaign, which concluded in December 2005, after exceeding its $50 million target. “We knew that this campaign goal was ambitious—the largest in Messiah’s history,” says campaign chair Eunice F. Steinbrecher, chair of the Messiah College Board of Trustees. “But we believed that it was possible because of the commitment of Messiah’s trustees, alumni, employees, friends, donors, and volunteers.”
Under the leadership
of campaign director D. Kelly Phipps, the campaign raised $50.5 million to fund two new facilities, Boyer Hall and Larsen Student Union; enhanced academic and faculty initiatives
that integrate faith with rigorous academics; and provided more scholarship aid for multicultural, international, and academically gifted students, which helps keep Messiah affordable and accessible to a diverse student population. Kelly Phipps summarizes, “There were three key ingredients that made this campaign successful: the overwhelming support of
the Board of Trustee members individually, with 100 percent of the members participating; the marvelous support of the Messiah College community, from students to faculty, deans, friends, alumni, parents, and grandparents who gave—their
support was really important and wonderful to experience; and, finally, the development staff, which worked as hard and as dedicated as any group I have ever witnessed—and always with an eye to the goal and hearts engaged with the purpose of Messiah College.”
According to Barry Goodling, Messiah’s vice
president for advancement, “Whether for a building or an academic program, the purpose of the campaign was to enhance the quality of education for students. We’re building on the vision of Messiah’s former
president, the late Rodney Sawatsky, who believed Christian education should be ‘second to none.’”
Initially, it was a first-quality film program,
not a Christian education, that drew Dawson to Messiah. Yet, from his first conversations with
professors, Dawson says he quickly recognized
that Messiah would offer him far more than just
the finest in film education and resources.
The opportunity to explore how art and faith interact “has been a real revelation for me,” says Dawson, who engages faculty with ideas in the
classroom and works closely with his professors
on film projects in Parmer. “It has given me more
of a focus and direction in life, where my desire
to be an artist can co-exist very peacefully and very dynamically with my faith.”
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