THE MARS HILL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CENTER The Embodiment of MHU’s Ideals Connection and relationship have long been qualities that have defined the culture of Mars Hill University. The creation of a new, centrally-located campus center aims, not just to provide space for all the student-centric organizations which are now far flung across campus, but to literally embody that ethos, giving it space to thrive and flourish. The as-yet-unnamed campus center is the single funding focus of the Together We Rise Capital campaign, which has been in the quiet phase of fundraising since January 2021. As of this printing, Mars Hill has raised over 75% of the $20 million campaign goal to renovate and expand Blackwell Hall into a new and vibrant hub of campus activity that will literally and figuratively bring the campus community together.
A TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS HUB “I have from the beginning looked at this as more than just a building. It is a significant way in which the ethos of this institution, meaning the high-quality relationship-building and personal education that characterize Mars Hill, can be further fostered,” said Bud Christman, Vice President for Advancement. “This project is part of our ongoing goal of elevating the student experience at Mars Hill,” he said. Christman and his team in the Office of Advancement, together with President Tony Floyd and the Together We Rise Campaign Steering Committee, have been leading the charge to get alumni and friends of the university excited about being part of this new step in Mars Hill’s future. “This will be the kind of transformational center that will impact not just one area of the university, but everybody on campus,” Christman said. “Furthermore, this is a future-oriented facility that will mark the next era of 6 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022
