Capital Campaign co-chairs Shirley Woodcock and Allen Carter
Tennessee Wesleyan College launched the public phase of the $16 million Proud Heritage, Strong Future capital campaign Thursday at a kickoff event on the TWC campus. This is the first capital campaign for the college in nearly 20 years.
The $16 million goal of this campaign will provide funding for four main campaign priorities: the TWC annual fund, scholarships, academic support, and facility enhancements, namely a new campus center. The Honorable Carl Colloms has pledged a $2 million gift towards this project.
To honor this donation, the new facility will be named the Colloms Campus Center.
“The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name the future campus center the Colloms Campus Center in honor of one of the college’s most generous and faithful alums,” TWC President Dr. Harley Knowles said. “Judge Colloms’ lead gift commitment of $2 million is the single largest charitable commitment in the college’s history.”
The Colloms Campus Center will provide much-needed gathering space for students and for the Athens community. The center will feature a game lounge, a banquet room, a café and grill area, the academic success center, the career center, and the student life offices. The new space will allow students to more easily receive the resources they need to have a successful college experience. The Colloms Campus Center was designed by architect Jim Winer.
“Jim Winer has done an amazing job designing this facility,” Dr. Knowles said. “We’re so fortunate to have such a talented designer.”
During the kickoff event, students, faculty, staff and honored guests of the college gathered in the Sherman Dining Hall to learn more about the campaign and the Colloms Campus Center. Attendees enjoyed dinner and heard from Dr. Knowles, TWC Vice President of Advancement Randy Nelson, CEO and Executive Director of the Athens-McMinn YMCA and TWC alum Lee Montgomery, and campaign co-chairs Allen Carter and Shirley Woodcock. The TWC Chorale also provided music to end the evening. Mr. Carter and Ms. Woodcock revealed the campaign progress so far. Thanks to generous donors, TWC has reached 67% of the overall goal, raising $10.3 million of the $16 million goal.
In addition to providing new spaces and support services for students, the Colloms Campus Center will provide spaces for the Athens community to gather as well. The banquet room will provide a space for larger groups to meet and can also be divided into three rooms for smaller events and conferences.
Attendees at the kickoff event were challenged to make a difference in the lives of TWC students, faculty and staff, as well as in the lives of community members. Mr. Carter encouraged people to connect with TWC, give generously, and go be ambassadors for the college.
“We can make miracles,” TWC Board of Trustees Chairman Mr. Carter said. “We can build this campus center. We can take care of these students like nobody else. We can grow this community.”