Oct. 30, 2015
For Immediate Release

By Jordan Antle, communications assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University received two $1 million gifts as the university announced the public phase of her $61.1 million “Our Time - This Place Next Century Campaign” at the 36th annual President's Club dinner Oct. 26 in Winters Dining Hall.

Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, a 1949 alumnus who serves on the university's Board of Trustees, personally gave $1 million toward the third building in the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex.

He also announced another $1 million gift from a friend of his who will remain anonymous at present.
Heilman was the speaker at the event before the largest crowd in the history of the dinner, with 388 in attendance, that honors donors who give $1,000 and more to the university during the fiscal year.

In his speech, Heilman challenged those in attendance to push the university forward while great things continue to happen at Campbellsville.

Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, a 1949 alumnus who serves on the university's Board of Trustees, personally gave $1 million toward the third building in the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex before he spoke at the President's Club Dinner. (CU Photo by Rachael DeCoursey)

“I caption my comments ‘Strike while the iron is hot,'” he said. “We must strike now while we have a president who has moved this institution far and has yet the time and capacity to move it much farther,” Heilman said.
Heilman also reflected on his time at Campbellsville, where he met his late wife, Betty Dobbins Heilman, a 1948 graduate of Campbellsville and for whom the Betty Dobbins Heilman House, the president's home, is named.

“Campbellsville College gave us both a good foundation. It was a launching pad, worth all we are giving and more. Had I not been given a chance here, I likely would not have attended college,” Heilman said.

Heilman has been involved in higher education 65 years and is the chancellor and former president of the University of Richmond.

Heilman's donation will continue the expansion of the Campbellsville University campus.

“Yes, I am designating a million dollars for all these reasons and for this new building which can be a visible expression of quality, style, functionality, and character for the whole campus and community,” he said.

The third building of the complex will be the largest building on campus, Heilman said, and will “highlight the architectural style of the campus for the future.”

He said the building will be the most expensive and the most diverse in function and will be a “bridge between the university and its external publics.

The building will include admissions, alumni career services and other functions, although details are still being worked out.

From left: Artist, Lee Jackson and Heilman's daughter, Terry Heilman Sylvester, share a smile with Dr. E. Bruce Heilman as they look at Jackson's portrait of Heilman in his Marine uniform. (CU Photo by Drew Tucker)

Heilman was surprised by the gift of a portrait, painted by Lee Jackson, of him in his Marine uniform from his family; his son, Tim Heilman, director of development at Campbellsville University; his daughter, Terry Heilman Sylvester, from California; and his granddaughter, Corey Heilman, Tim Heilman's daughter, from Virginia.

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, spoke about progress and future of the university.

“Campbellsville University is moving forward, and we are moving forward in many, many wonderful ways,” Carter said.

“Tonight, we say thank you. Thank you for your support of the scholarship fund, which is absolutely essential as we make Christian higher education affordable,” he said.

“The capital campaign is mission to challenge the mind as well as the heart,” Carter said.

Carter, who is serving in his 17th year as president of the university, said Campbellsville University, over the past three weeks, has also received a $2,244,778 million Title III grant; $450,000 from the James Graham Brown Foundation, and $150,000 from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, plus the $2 million gifts.

Dr. Joseph L. Owens, chairman of the Campbellsville University Board of Trustees, made the announcement that Campbellsville was moving into the public phase of the “Our Time - This Place Next Century Capital Campaign.”

“In spite of any delays, in spite of any distractions, this capital campaign has now reached $45.3 million,” Owens said.

Owens, who was reelected to an unprecedented fifth term as chair of the board in a meeting the following day, made the announcement of the public phase of the campaign and Heilman's gift which was the first gift toward the public campaign.

Students Tori Hester of Henderson, Ky., Logan Curtis of Lawrenceburg, Ky., Jake Russell, also of Lawrenceburg, Ky., and Devine Oludi of Nigeria unveiled the check from Heilman as Owens announced the amount of the gift.

“One million dollars, amen,” Owens said.

Carter and Heilman unveiled the renderings of the third building of the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex.

An artist's rendering of the third building in the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex.

“This Heilman Complex has awesomely served our students and all of us so much,” Owens said. “Dr. Heilman, thank you so much for making this building possible.”

New members of the President's Club were honored during the event including: Chris and Shannon Clark, from Campbellsville, Ky.; Paul Hilpp, from Lebanon, Ky.; Jessie Insurance Agency, from Campbellsville, Ky., represented by Julie Jessie; Bob and Chris Mapes, from Campbellsville, Ky.; Shawn Skeels, from Campbellsville, Ky.; Robert and Cathy Mayne, from Somerset, Ky.; Dr. Mike and Sarah O'Neal, from Campbellsville, Ky.; Steve and Dr. Carol Peddicord, from Albany, Ky.; Deb Straley, from Campbellsville, Ky.; and Taylor County Retired Teachers Association, from Campbellsville, Ky.

Three students were given the Campbellsville University Student Leadership Award during the dinner. Tori Hester and Logan Curtis received the award for their work with Campbellsville University's Church Outreach Program while Jake Russell, from Lawrenceburg, Ky., received the leadership in athletics as well as academics.
Hester, Curtis and Olundi entertained during the dinner.

Benji Kelly, vice president for development at CU, welcomed the members of the President's Club to the event.

“This is a record attendance for this dinner, and we thank you for your attendance and for your generous support,” Kelly said. “You are making a difference in students' lives.”

He said there were 59 new members of the President's Club for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

During the dinner, which was prepared by Pioneer College Catering Inc., Campbellsville University School of Music students performed selected pieces. Hsing-Yi Tsai, from Taiwan, played piano and Junji Piao, from China, played violin as attendees made their way into the dining hall.

Dave Walters, vice president for admissions and student services, gave the invocation, and Dr. G. Ted Taylor, director of FIRST CLASS and Church Outreach and parent relations, gave the benediction.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 24 master's degrees, seven postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.