Melvine and I received the following letter from Dr. Ed Huckeby, the new president of Southwestern Christian University, dated May 10, 2010. I have intentionally waited until now to share this exceptional letter with you my readers of Hugh's News. It is a letter worthy of your prayerful and financial support. And I will quote the letter to you without the usual quotation marks.
April 10, 2010 marked the end of my “first 100 days” on the job as President of Southwestern Christian University. This milestone is traditionally recognized as a measuring point for “early stage” accomplishments in any new position. Regardless of accomplishments, I can assure you that, in this short period of time, Latricia and I have become loyal, “true blue” SCU fans in a number of ways.
First and foremost, we have found the moral and spiritual support received during this transition period to be nothing short of incredible. The students, faculty, staff and administrative personnel have welcomed us with open arms. For that we are extremely grateful and thankful.
Second, from that first evening on the job when the SCU men’s basketball team beat East Central University, an NCAA Division II team (and my alma mater), Trisha and I knew, as avid basketball fans, that exciting times were ahead in the gym at SCU. We have been privileged to follow both the men’s and women’s teams with great enthusiasm through the regular season and playoff tournaments. We are very fortunate, as a small, private university, to have quality athletic programs, both from the recruiting and student life perspectives.
Third, I am continually amazed at the level of expertise and dedication which seems to exude from the faculty and staff at SCU. We can be very proud of the academic and spiritual standards which are being upheld by those who are working with and educating our students at Southwestern. Trish and I have also been impressed by the incredibly talented students who grace our campus. The recent production of “The Music Man” was one of the best we have seen, and the “One Voice” and Chapel music talent is exceptional.
The SCU campus is going through a physical transformation which will be evolving over the next couple of years. We are making a number of “cosmetic” improvements which will increase campus appeal to both current and future students, as well as our alumni and guests. Additionally, we are in the process of expanding degree options and adding new degree programs which will attract outstanding students from around the globe.
Along with these exciting early developments, we have dramatic financial news to share! We are thrilled to announce that several major donors have stepped up with “seed funding” to provide significant impetus for our new JUMPSTART 2011 Campaign. This ten-week campaign, running from April 15th through June 30th, will assure that we end the current fiscal year strong as we prepare for our upcoming North Central Association/Higher Learning Commission accreditation visit…and assure that we have adequate seed funding for our projected growth initiatives in the upcoming academic year. Through the generosity of these donors, every dollar you donate will be DOUBLED! If you give $10,000, our benefactor funds will match your funds, turning your donation into a $20,000 gift! Our donors will match up to $250,000, allowing us to raise at least $400,000 to help secure the future of SCU!
As a part of the SCU master plan for growth, we have defined both long-term and short-term “Priorities for the Future.” To assist you in understanding the needs and future direction of SCU, a list of these priorities is included for your review.
I know you have been praying and will continue to pray for the growth and success of Southwestern Christian University. Please give serious consideration to what your role should be in supporting this campaign. An envelope is enclosed for your check or, if you prefer, you can go to our website and donate via credit card. If you would like to establish a series of payments through the end of the calender year, feel free to contact Jon Chasteen, Vice President for University Advancement, at 405-789-7661, ext. 3422, to work out the details.
If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me or Jon Chasteen. We look forward to hearing from you regarding the JUMPSTART 2011 Campaign. Please be assured that we sincerely appreciate your continuing support of and interest in Southwestern Christian University.
Blessings to you and yours…
Original Signed
Dr. Ed Huckeby
President
EDH:jb
Posted on
Thu, May 27, 2010
by Hugh Morgan