» Bringing the Vision into Focus, Key to the Future Campaign Video
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Number 4, June 2006
A New Science Building and Phi Beta Kappa
Two hallmarks of a Phi Beta Kappa-caliber college are a physical environment that is conducive to learning and an abundance of undergraduate research opportunities to prepare students for graduate school and careers in a variety of professions. The vision for Virginia Wesleyan College includes a new LEED-certified platinum green laboratory science building that will create a state-of-the-art instructional setting for important science programs.
Take a look at the north side of the proposed building and the master plan with the location of the new building highlighted. This building will be the model for how science facilities will be built and how science will be taught in the future.
A World-Class Facility
The new science building will foster hands-on, research-oriented activities in both classrooms and laboratories, incorporate multimedia instructional technology and feature:
- Dedicated research areas for each faculty member to conduct research and lead student research;
- Instructional areas that allow students to move easily between the classroom and the laboratory;
- Modern laboratories for biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, computer science and physics classes;
- Natural history areas for geological, zoological and botanical specimens. A full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton will be among the exhibits;
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In The Next Campaign UpdateAn observatory dome and pier to house a high-power telescope, tracking instrumentation and image capture and processing equipment;
Find out what makes our new science building platinum “green” and why it will be the only one at a liberal arts college in the world!
- A greenhouse, herbarium and botany laboratory;
- Two computer science classrooms with computers for each student;
- Multimedia technology that enhances teaching, such as instructional consoles to project slides, computer images, microscope images, documents and video images;
- Multipurpose, re-configurable classrooms to accommodate changing instructional needs;
- Comfortable gathering spots that encourage collaboration, open interaction and spontaneous discussion among students and faculty. One such area will feature large windows for identifying and observing native bird and animal species.
Progress Toward Our Goal
The Key to the Future Campaign covers five years, from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2008.
As of May 31, 2006, the College was at $39.1 million, an increase of $3.9 million since our last update.
Each endowment, each capital improvement and every Annual Fund dollar supports the drive to be Phi Beta Kappa-caliber.
Campaign Leadership Gifts
Frank Blocker
S. Frank Blocker, Jr. has made a $1,000,000 commitment to the campaign. Of that total, $100,000 will fund the Blocker Endowed Scholarship. The remaining $900,000 will be a planned gift and will be used to ensure that Blocker Hall will be renovated and remain a leading classroom building on the campus for many years to come.
In recognition of a previous planned gift of $1.5 million, the College's science building had been named for Frank's parents, S. Frank and Wilma Williamson Blocker. Frank has served on the Virginia Wesleyan Board of Trustees since 1990. Frank was the owner and president of Eastern Auto Distributors, Inc. in Norfolk and has also served as a longtime volunteer for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.Peter and Phyllis Pruden
An estate gift of $855,000 has created the Peter and Phyllis Pruden Endowed Scholarship, the second largest endowed scholarship at Virginia Wesleyan College.