A song lyric from my high school days has been running through my mind lately: “…There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years…celebrate good times, come on….” As I write this “Reflecting Along the Journey” column, Davis & Elkins College has just experienced a joyful occasion marking both an epic accomplishment and a bright future.

In 2023, the Board of Trustees stepped out in faith and approved an ambitious building project along with a capital campaign to fund it. The Freshman Village at Davis & Elkins College, with the brand-new Glory Residence Hall as its centerpiece, was on its way from vision to reality. To construct Glory and renovate Roxanna Booth and Gribble Residence Halls, the college needed $25 million. To address this need, the “Creating Home: It Takes A Village” Capital Campaign was launched. Rather than financing these critical projects through debt, the decision was made to “pay our way” to preserve the long-term financial health of the college.

In just under 36 months, the “Creating Home” campaign crossed the finish line, raising more than $25 million. On June 1, a crowd gathered on the spacious patio of Glory Residence Hall, overlooking Myles Plaza and the distant mountains, for one reason: there was a party going on to celebrate good times!  A steel drum band set the festive mood as members of the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, donors, students, alumni, and friends of the college came together to celebrate the milestone and look toward a promising future.

Reflecting on both the event and the campaign itself, two important takeaways stand out.

First, together we turned ambition into achievement. The capital campaign and construction of the Freshman Village united alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students behind a common and worthy purpose. A shared dream became a transformative reality through collective generosity. Individuals who believe deeply in the mission of Davis & Elkins College gave generously and sacrificially to ensure the college remains competitive amid the growing challenges facing private higher education. Standing in the heart of the Freshman Village today, what once seemed aspirational now stands as a lasting testament to community, commitment, and vision.

Second, while the campaign is complete, its impact is only beginning. Generations of students will have doors of opportunity opened because of the investments made by generous donors. This is true not only of campus enhancements such as the Freshman Village, but also of scholarships and academic programs that will continue shaping lives far into the future. The gathering on June 1 was significant because the conclusion of the campaign signals the determination and resilience of the D&E community to ensure a stronger and vibrant future for the college.

Glory Residence Hall was named to remind all who enter of God’s glory. Standing on the patio of this newest campus building on June 1, I was deeply aware of God’s blessing upon our college, and the opportunity to be a blessing to both today’s students and generations yet to come. In that moment, it became clear that what once seemed an ambitious vision had become a defining achievement in the life of the college.

It truly is a time to “…celebrate good times…come on.”

The journey continues…


Chris A. Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College