CC unveils campaign to raise $3.9 million

Clarendon College has unveiled a campaign to raise nearly $3.9 million over the next three years to meet the present and future needs of the Panhandle’s oldest institution of higher learning.

The New Horizons Capital Campaign was well received during a luncheon held last Thursday for 65 local community leaders, faculty, alumni, and supporters of CC.

The campaign identifies four major goals for the college: a new library and learning resources center, a new livestock and equine center, additional funding for scholarships, and money for instructional equipment and emerging technologies.

The current CC Library, housed in approximately 4,000 square feet, is no longer adequate to serve the school’s students. A new facility will cost the college approximately $2 million and would provide 15,000 to 18,000 square feet for library and learning resource purposes. This facility would be of great benefit to people in the college’s service area and would enable the college to increase the number of holdings in the library and to better prepare students for university work and lifelong learning.

A livestock and equine center is needed because Clarendon College currently has no facilities at all for these programs or for the livestock competitions that are held here throughout the year. Some of these events draw upwards of 2,000 people to Clarendon. In addition to attracting visitors to various competitions, supporters say the center would allow the college to expand and enhance its agricultural programs. The center would encompass 66,000 square feet and would cost an estimated $1 million.

The campaign hopes to raise a $500,000 endowment to bolster the college’s scholarship program. Another $390,000 is set as the goal for technology and equipment improvements to benefit both students and faculty.

CC President Myles Shelton says the New Horizons campaign has been well received by the public.

“We’ve got a lot of folks who believe in Clarendon College and who see the needs which exist,” he said. “They want to see those needs met in a way that will service this area for a long time to come.”

Shelton said it will ultimately be volunteers in the campaign who meet friend to friend to raise the money.

The campaign, which began last August, is broken into two phases. The first phase involved the Board of Regents, the CC Foundation Board, and the faculty and staff.

Shelton said the faculty/staff goal of $20,000 has been exceeded. That group has raised $32,000 and is still working, he said.

The boards are about halfway to their goal of raising $500,000.

The next phase of the campaign – the public phase – was launched at the luncheon. It will focus first on alumni and people in Donley County, then proceed to the college’s seven-county service area and beyond. The final part of the public phase will be conducted through foundations and corporations.

“Foundations like to see that the people closest to the college are behind the campaign before they give their support,” Shelton said.

Founded in 1898 by the Methodist Church, Clarendon College has been a public institution since 1927. The College District receives financing from state sources, but funds for facilities and instructional equipment must be generated locally or through private support. Supporters say up to date facilities and current technology is even more important as students enter the work force and prepare to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

For more information about the New Horizons Campaign, contact the Clarendon College Office of Development at 1-800-687-9737. Or you can write to PO Box 968, Clarendon, TX 79226.