Keller Hall Phase III: Establishing an Endowment for Values Based Learning

Through many small and large gifts, which included major estate gifts, the rebirth of one of the oldest buildings on Newberry College's campus is now a reality. Phases I and II concentrated upon bricks and mortar, the renovation of both the outside and inside of Keller Hall. We now are beginning Phase III, the establishment of an endowment to ensure a strong foundation for the Values Based Learning (VBL) program to be housed in Keller Hall. The VBL program celebrates Martin Luther's conception of Christian Vocation by incorporating service-learning into the educational experiences of students to prepare them to be active, engaged citizens.

Newberry College has partnered with community organizations, such as area public schools, elder care facilities, and Newberry YMCA, to provide service opportunities in which students offer their service and gain experiential knowledge in return. This type of experiential learning by doing deepens understanding of community needs and builds core values that develop heightened civic engagement for a lifetime.

A two-year grant provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans enabled the College to pilot the VBL program and hire staff. The College has committed to continue the staff funding; additional dollars are needed to grow, expand, and support the service projects to be initiated in the future. In other words, when a student initiates a project to serve a local partner, funding is needed for travel, supplies, materials, etc. to enable the project to occur. An endowment will allow for long-term project planning and a commitment to partners, because funding can be projected for periods longer than one year.

We invite you to partner with this endowment effort to ensure the success of the Values Based Learning program, development of our students, and service to our communities and church. For further information, please contact Laura Beth Shealy at 803-321-5651 or LauraBeth.Shealy@newberry.edu.