CONWAY,
Ark. (November 20, 2020) — Hendrix College has received a $15 million gift from
the Windgate Foundation, the largest outright gift in Hendrix’s history.
“We
are grateful for the support of the Windgate Foundation,” said Hendrix
President W. Ellis Arnold III. “More than ever, it is critical that we continue
moving forward, to meet today’s challenges and to continue to be a leader in
higher education in the future.”
[This $15 million gift from the Windgate Foundation
surpassed the previous largest non-estate gift of $11 million, making it the
second largest gift overall. The
$26 million gift from the estate of Mary Ann Dawkins in 2015 remains the
largest gift of any nature in the College’s history.]
This
year, the College surpassed its $110 million campaign goal a year ahead of
schedule with $114 million in gifts and pledges. The campaign, which was
scheduled to end in 2021, will be expanded to $150 million and will extend to
2023. The campaign now stands at $129 million.
“During
this campaign, thanks to the support of alumni and friends of the College, we
have strengthened the academic and student life experience with new programs
and initiatives,” said Arnold. “We have added new facilities that celebrate the
residential experience and support student recruitment, and we have continued
to make Hendrix more affordable and accessible for students and families.”
This
spring, as part of the campaign expansion, Hendrix will launch a multimillion-dollar
Residence Hall Renewal Project, beginning with renovations of Veasey Hall.
Fundraising efforts for the project will also support renovations of historic
Martin Hall.
In
addition, the expanded campaign will seek additional funds for the College’s
endowment. $10 million of the Windgate gift will provide endowed scholarships
for Hendrix students.
“These
priorities – the Residence Hall Renewal Project and increasing the College’s
endowment – will support student recruitment and retention,” said Arnold. “They
will keep Hendrix accessible and affordable to students and families, and they
will ensure that Hendrix remains one of the country’s leading liberal arts
colleges for academic quality, innovation, and value.”
The
expanded Hendrix campaign will be called A Time to Lead: The Campaign for
Today and Tomorrow.
“The
time for Hendrix to lead is now. We know that many students and families are
concerned by the cost of higher education today,” said Arnold. “That is why we
recently announced a tuition reset and lowered our tuition by 32% for new
students.”
“We
also know that our current students’ residential experience at Hendrix was
disrupted by COVID-19,” he said. “That is why – in addition to our tuition
reset for new students – we developed a tuition-free fifth year program for current
students to provide the opportunity to have a complete residential student
experience at Hendrix.”
Arnold
added that these recent offerings are just two examples of how Hendrix is
leading today. “We must continue to lead in quality, innovation, and value,” he
said. “The Residence Hall Renewal Project will reinforce the vital role of the
residential campus experience at Hendrix and growing our endowment will
strengthen the College’s financial position to support students today and
tomorrow.”
About Hendrix College
A
private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently
earns recognition as one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions,
and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the
Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation, and
value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides, lists,
and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the United
Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.
photo by Mike Kemp