Among the many area businesses and ministries that have made contributions to our recovery and rebuilding efforts over the past few weeks, we would like to take opportunity this week to express our genuine gratitude to:
American Family Radio
AskOnline
Aruba Networks
CDW-G
Campbell Equipment Co.
Coca-Cola
Corporate Express
Datatel
Dell
Dement Construction
Dyer Baptist Association
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Ferrilli Information Group
First Bank
First Tennessee
Gannett Foundation
Gary Taylor Investments
Interactive Solutions
Jackson Energy Authority
MG Construction
Spectrum Industries
Synergy Technology Group
TLM Architects & Engineers
West Tennessee Healthcare
We will try to offer thanks to a different group of friends and supporters each week. Please know of our genuine and heartfelt gratitude.
The Union University Community
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Page challenges Southern Baptist churches to aid Union University in rebuilding effort
Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page called for Southern Baptist churches to give generously to Union University as the institution seeks to recover from more than $40 million in damages sustained in a Feb. 5 tornado.
Page issued his challenge Feb. 27 during his first visit to the campus since the tornado destroyed about 70 percent of student housing and caused extensive damage to other buildings on campus. Union University President David S. Dockery took Page on a tour of the campus during his visit.
“I’m a little bit shell-shocked as I look around,” Page said. “It’s unbelievable that this kind of devastation could occur, and yet not one single student lost their life. So for that, we give thanks to the Lord.”
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Weekly update from the president
For the Lord's most evident blessings and guidance for Union University this past week, we are most grateful. What an amazing week it was! The move-in process went extremely well. The Lord's presence was obvious at the worship service on Tuesday night. Everyone has adjusted rather easily to the new class schedules on Wednesday and Thursday. We experienced a historic day on Friday with the groundbreaking service. The packed gymnasium on Thursday night with two wins over our friends from FHU was certainly a "welcome back" highlight.
As one visitor from a west coast institution who was with us this past week said, "It doesn't feel like there was a tornado here; it feels like something very good and special has taken place." While that is quite an overstatement, it does point to the positive and hopeful spirit across the campus. The student retention is absolutely amazing, and something for which we should all rejoice.
Our journey forward will be long and challenging and not without a bump or two in the road, I am sure. With God's help and gracious enablement, we can take the next step . . . and the next one. Across all departments and areas on both the Jackson and Germantown campuses there is a renewed commitment to our shared work at Union University. I have had so many opportunities to tell people far and wide about the terrific staff and faculty that can be found at Union University.
We must continue to pray for God's blessings for Union. I am telling people that we need many prayers and many generous donors. We are thankful for small sacrificial gifts and several larger six-figure gifts. We are now praying for seven-figure gifts to help us take large steps forward. We should all rejoice, however, that in such a short time we have already received over $3.5 million from more than 1,500 donors. We will need almost six times that amount throughout the rest of this calendar year and we will trust the Lord to open the windows of heaven for Union University. Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page will be on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 27, to echo his call for churches across the SBC to join him in support for Union at this time. The generous responses from our colleagues in higher education and our friends in the churches have been heartwarming and meaningful.
I was privileged to have a wonderful meeting with our student leaders this past Wednesday night. They have asked if I would bring a similar update along with a question and answer session for other students who might wish to attend tonight. I look forward to meeting with students in the chapel this evening at 9 p.m. I hope the time will be informative and clarifying for all.
On Friday we will welcome almost 80 outstanding students who will be here for "Scholars' Weekend." We are hopeful for all of these to join another 400 or so who will make up the freshman class of Union University in the fall of 2008. This will be a very important weekend for them and for us. I remain very excited about those who will join the Union University community in the fall.
We are thankful for the privilege we have to watch the development of the campus in coming days. We remain grateful for all who have encouraged, supported and prayed for us over the past three weeks. Particularly, we want to ask our friends to continue to pray for our students, staff, and faculty in days to come.
Faithfully,
David S. Dockery, President, Union University
As one visitor from a west coast institution who was with us this past week said, "It doesn't feel like there was a tornado here; it feels like something very good and special has taken place." While that is quite an overstatement, it does point to the positive and hopeful spirit across the campus. The student retention is absolutely amazing, and something for which we should all rejoice.
Our journey forward will be long and challenging and not without a bump or two in the road, I am sure. With God's help and gracious enablement, we can take the next step . . . and the next one. Across all departments and areas on both the Jackson and Germantown campuses there is a renewed commitment to our shared work at Union University. I have had so many opportunities to tell people far and wide about the terrific staff and faculty that can be found at Union University.
We must continue to pray for God's blessings for Union. I am telling people that we need many prayers and many generous donors. We are thankful for small sacrificial gifts and several larger six-figure gifts. We are now praying for seven-figure gifts to help us take large steps forward. We should all rejoice, however, that in such a short time we have already received over $3.5 million from more than 1,500 donors. We will need almost six times that amount throughout the rest of this calendar year and we will trust the Lord to open the windows of heaven for Union University. Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page will be on campus on Wednesday, Feb. 27, to echo his call for churches across the SBC to join him in support for Union at this time. The generous responses from our colleagues in higher education and our friends in the churches have been heartwarming and meaningful.
I was privileged to have a wonderful meeting with our student leaders this past Wednesday night. They have asked if I would bring a similar update along with a question and answer session for other students who might wish to attend tonight. I look forward to meeting with students in the chapel this evening at 9 p.m. I hope the time will be informative and clarifying for all.
On Friday we will welcome almost 80 outstanding students who will be here for "Scholars' Weekend." We are hopeful for all of these to join another 400 or so who will make up the freshman class of Union University in the fall of 2008. This will be a very important weekend for them and for us. I remain very excited about those who will join the Union University community in the fall.
We are thankful for the privilege we have to watch the development of the campus in coming days. We remain grateful for all who have encouraged, supported and prayed for us over the past three weeks. Particularly, we want to ask our friends to continue to pray for our students, staff, and faculty in days to come.
Faithfully,
David S. Dockery, President, Union University
Friday, February 22, 2008
Union stories in Baptist Press
Yesterday's edition of Baptist Press was devoted entirely to stories about Union University, most of them written by staff members of the Cardinal & Cream, Union's student newspaper:
Post tornado, Union students, faculty return with optimism
Union to break ground for student housing
Union service marks new beginning
Precious possession emerges from rubble
Tornado unites Lady Bulldogs, rivals
Textbook donations exceed expectations
Collegians nationwide rally to help Union
FIRST PERSON: 'Union' speaks truth in its name
Post tornado, Union students, faculty return with optimism
Union to break ground for student housing
Union service marks new beginning
Precious possession emerges from rubble
Tornado unites Lady Bulldogs, rivals
Textbook donations exceed expectations
Collegians nationwide rally to help Union
FIRST PERSON: 'Union' speaks truth in its name
Union embarks upon ‘aggressive plan,’ breaks ground on new student housing complex
A 10-year plan for new student housing at Union University has become a 10-month plan, as the university broke ground today on a new residence life complex that will be finished no later than the spring 2009 semester.The facility will consist of 14 buildings that will house more than 700 students when it is fully completed. Initial plans call for half of the facility to be complete by Sept. 1, providing plenty of campus housing for new students enrolling at Union in the fall.
“Today in what seems almost beyond comprehension, two weeks and three days after a tornado destroyed large portions of this campus, we gather together to give thanks to God for a new beginning and the opportunity to build again,” Union President David S. Dockery said in a chapel service preceding the groundbreaking ceremony.
Read the full story.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Union University to break ground on new student housing complex
Union University will begin immediate construction on a new student residence complex that will house some students as early as Sept. 1.Representatives from Union’s board of trustees are still working on details with contractors, but Union will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 22, with site work scheduled to begin Feb. 25 and contractors beginning their work in early March.
Read the full story.
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