Table of Contents
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Academics Academic Facilities Academic Programs Honors Program
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Athletics Soccer Esports
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Campus Renewal Gathering Spaces Olt Student Center Raven Spirit
Scholarships
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Called to Soar
Before heading full speed into the activities and events of the 2022-2023 school year, it seems important to provide one last summary and celebration of all that you accomplished through your gifts to AU during Called to Soar. More than 6,000 donors contributed a total of $23.1 million dollars for the Called to Soar Fundraising Initiative. We are so grateful for the outpouring of generosity and hope that this e-document will provide further evidence of the tremendous impact that Called to Soar has had on our campus. The overarching purpose of Called to Soar was to elevate the student experience. This has been accomplished through projects that built out completely new spaces within existing buildings, upgraded technologies, and repurposed facilities for greater student engagement. Impacting the student experience was also accomplished through scholarships, enhancements to academic programs, and particular attention paid to five Growth Programs that we believe are key to our future success. This booklet will demonstrate the impact you have had through this initiative in the following ways: First will be a reminder of the categories for which we sought funding, the goals and the amounts raised. Second is a campus map that shows where all of the various physical projects have been completed or are in progress. This will be followed by a largely pictorial tour of campus buildings and programs under the headings of: Academics, Athletics, Campus Renewal, and Scholarships.
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Academics Academic Facilities Academic Programs Honors Program
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Academic Facilities Many Academic programs benefited significantly from Called to Soar. New equipment was purchased and studio improvements were made to support the Cinema and Media Arts program. Drums were purchased to create a drumline that will be housed in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance which will provide noise, enthusiasm, and support at AU athletic events. The Computer Science department received a classroom upgrade that included new computers and flexible tables and seating which allows for group work and better student engagement. Finally, the Breitweiser Music Technology Lab, named after former professor Dr. David Breitweiser, was outfitted with new state-of-the-art piano keyboards used by all students who take Music Theory courses.
Academic Programs The Falls School of Business is now home to the new Dunkin Digital Media Lab and will also benefit from a renewed partnership with Star Financial who provided new computers for the Star Trading Room. A second and newly equipped Electrical Engineering lab provides greater opportunity for Engineering students to have the hands-on experience that makes all three of our Engineering programs special. Cybersecurity and National Security majors have access to real-world work experiences through the Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense. Our best-in-the-state Nursing program has expanded opportunities through the creation of a second Simulation lab. Finally, our Education program has become more affordable with the Teacher Education Scholarship, a $5,000 annual award for future teachers.
Honors Program A growing Honors program has brought an increasingly motivated and bright group of students to campus who take a common course each semester throughout this four-year experience. They now have a new space to study and enjoy on the third floor of the Nicholson Library called the Scholar's Nest and lounges outfitted on the Honors floors of Martin and Smith Hall. 5
Above: Center for Media Arts and cyclorama green screen Right: ARRI camera system
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Left: Pep band instruments and uniforms Below: Breitweiser Music Technology Lab
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Right: STAR Trading Room Below: Dunkin Digital Media Lab
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Above: Nursing simulation (SIM) lab Top Right: Center for Security Studies & Cyber Defense Bottom Right: Electrical engineering lab
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Above: Scholar's Nest in Nicholson Library Left: Lounge on the Honors floor in Martin Hall
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Athletics Soccer Esports
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Soccer and Esports Thanks to the efforts of Coach Scott Fridley, soccer alumni, and other donors, the AU Soccer program has an expanded stadium that sports new bleachers, fencing, signage, and a pavilion, with lights and bathrooms still to come. Esports is the latest sport to join the Raven Athletics Department and operates in a repurposed classroom in Decker Hall.
Top Left: Press box and team benches Bottom Left: Fridley Field bleachers
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Top: Esports stations and branding Right: Individual Esports station
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Campus Renewal Gathering Spaces Olt Student Center Raven Spirit Residence Halls
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Gathering Spaces A number of new Gathering Spaces have been created, and a few more refurbished, to provide students with comfortable places on campus to be together. These include the Common Place Lounge in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry building, the Commuter's Corner and Hammock Lounge located in the Nicholson Library, the Modern Foreign Language Lounge in Decker Hall, and the Student Lounge in Hartung Hall.
Olt Student Center The Heritage Dining Room, which hosts a number of smaller meetings with President Pistole, the Board, and others, received an upgrade that allows for high quality presentations and telecommunications. The main dining room, Schield, has new furniture, fresh lighting and a five-star salad bar. Downstairs, the bathrooms are receiving their first upgrade ever, and Mocha Joe's and the Alley are enjoying ongoing improvements in furniture, décor, flooring, and additional space.
Raven Spirit Bright colors and inviting backdrops in new spaces located in the Welcome Center, Center for Student Life, and a unique outdoor set of wings on Decker Hall provide numerous opportunities for students to express their Raven Spirit. GBGR! (God Bless, Go Ravens!)
Residence Halls Dunn Hall, home to thousands of young men through the years, is currently being worked on and will provide new bathrooms for residents moving in for the Fall 2022 semester. Ask a ‘Dunn man’ if this was needed! There will also be upgrades to the Dunn Hall Lounge. The Smith Hall Lounge has welcomed new furniture and the remaining dorm lobbies will also receive some attention.
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Above: The Common Place lounge in the School of Theology Top Left: Commuter's Corner in Nicholson Library Bottom Left: Hammock lounge in Nicholson Library
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Left: Food stations in Schield Dining Room (Marketplace) Below: Seating in Schield Dining Room (Marketplace)
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Top: Mocha Joe's in Olt Student Center Right: The Alley connected to Mocha Joe's
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Above: Raven wings photo opportunity on the exterior of Decker Hall near the Welcome Center
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Scholarships Madison County Church of God Christian High School Hispanic/Latino
Gifts to the AU Student Fund continue to help students transform lives for Christ by embodying AU’s core values of integrity, excellence, servant leadership, responsibility, and generosity, wherever they’re called to serve. An enhanced scholarship program helps attract and retain students and provides more Ravens with the opportunity to soar. Thank you for being part of this meaningful work by supporting scholarships, whether through our endowment or through gifts for current use. All gifts have provided scholarships to incoming, current, or transfer students of Anderson University and provide financial assistance through AU grants or merit scholarships, based on students’ needs and eligibility. Here are a handful of scholarships that benefited from your giving:
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Madison County Scholarship This scholarship was created with the intent to increase community pride and engagement and helps to provide private education for a public school price. AU has a deep desire to be a part of the initiative to “keep local talent local” by investing in the lives of Madison County students and their families.
Church of God Scholarship Since its founding in 1917, AU has become a place of self-discovery, spiritual growth, and Christ-centered academic formation, but we never forget our roots. Our Church of God scholarship is awarded to students who are actively involved in a Church of God congregation and are recommended by their pastor.
Christian High School Scholarship This scholarship is for high school seniors who have received a diploma from a Christian high school and have demonstrated great academic success. Anderson University offers this opportunity in efforts to better enable qualified students to continue their academic journey in an environment that fosters spiritual growth.
Hispanic/Latino Scholarship The Anderson University student body, along with its faculty and staff, is made up of people who represent diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. This scholarship is available for Hispanic/Latino students and is intended to support AU’s efforts to continue to build an extraordinary, diverse student population, representative of God’s Kingdom all around the world.
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