Wellness campaign tops its goal

In 2015, Messiah College launched the Campaign for Wellness, a fundraising effort focused on the need for wellness, fitness and indoor athletics facilities.

The College’s top strategic priority, the campaign moved forward with a fundraising goal of $6 million. By January,  more than $6.5 million was raised. Messiah continues to be grateful for God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of God’s people toward Messiah. Construction began in 2016 and completion is scheduled for this summer, with a dedication in October.

The new facilities include:

Falcon Fitness Center

• The Falcon Fitness Center, a 29,750-square-foot fitness and wellness center, is the campaign cornerstone. The facility will be divided into cardio training, weight lifting and a group fitness room.
• A glass wall along the length of the center will allow for natural light, making a strong impression to visitors entering  campus from the North Gate.
• Improvements include a Fredricksen Natatorium renovation with expanded spectator seating; an enhanced wrestling practice space; and a new faculty office suite for the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science.

Sawyer Products Gymnasium

• A new 12,450-square-foot  auxiliary gymnasium next to the existing Brubaker Auditorium—Sawyer Products Gymnasium—will house two basketball practice courts for team practice and recreational sports use.

Jordan Court

• The renovation of Hitchcock Arena into the new home court, i.e., Jordan Court, will provide a competitive venue for the basketball, volleyball and wrestling programs.
• Jordan Court will feature seating for 1,900 and the Alumni Scoreboard, a state-of-the-art scoreboard system funded by donations from alumni, parents and friends of the Messiah basketball programs.

Thank you to campaign co-chairs Rick Jordan ’72 and D. Kelly Phipps; the Board of Trustees and President Phipps and her cabinet for their visionary leadership; lead contractor Wohlsen Construction; Vice President for Operations Kathie Shafer and her team; Vice President Barry Goodling and the advancement and development teams; and the many donors who contributed to this effort. “We are excited as we look toward utilizing these new facilities to greatly enhance the educational and fitness/wellness experience of our students and student-athletes,” said President Kim Phipps. “These significant resources are critical to our ongoing strategic planning efforts as we work to be the premier Christian college in the eastern United States.”