Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren formally announced the college’s capital campaign, Building Extraordinary: The Campaign for Randolph-Macon College, during a kick-off celebration at the historic Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, April 29, 2011. 

Click on Building Extraordinary for a slideshow of photos from the event.

“Now is the time to shape an extraordinary future for Randolph-Macon College,” said Lindgren. “This $100 million initiative is designed to gather the necessary resources to position the college for the next level of excellence. Those who love RMC have an unprecedented opportunity to honor our tradition of excellence.”

The Building Extraordinary campaign launched with an astounding $67 million in gifts already committed. The Campaign is a $100 million initiative designed to position the college for the next level of excellence. The goals for the campaign are set forth by the college’s strategic and master plans. Priorities for the campaign include upgrading and building state-of-the-art facilities, increasing the endowment to provide greater opportunities and support for faculty and students in and out of the classroom, and enhancing student outcomes through career and graduate school preparation.

During the event, the college community expressed its gratitude to the generosity of alumni and friends who have already committed to this campaign:

Joan and Macon Brock ’64 announced a lead gift of $10 million. $5 million will go toward a state-of-the-art addition to the college’s Copley Science Center and $5 million toward the expansion and renovation of the Frank E. Brown Campus Center. The Brocks have made additional gifts to create the Macon and Joan Brock Professorship in Psychology, currently held by Psychology Professor and Neuroscientist Dr. Kelly Lambert, improvements to several academic buildings, and to support the building of a new residence hall and improve athletic facilities. The Brocks’ total gift to this Campaign now exceeds $19 million.

The late Paul H. Wornom ’37 bequeathed $3 million to invigorate RMC’s pre-med program and provide students with the guidance, support, academic preparation and clinical experiences they need to be accepted in the country’s most prestigious medical schools. Currently, RMC has established medical school partnerships with Eastern Virginia Medical College, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Constance and Thomas Birdsong ’49 and The Birdsong Corporation for their $2 million gift to build a new residence hall for upperclassmen.

Maria Wornom Rippe and Peter Rippe established the Wornom-Rippe Faculty Endowed Fund, which will attract talented new faculty to Randolph-Macon.

Beverley and Douglas Dalton’70 for their commitment of $1.5 million to establish an Alumni House for visiting alumni. It will be the future home to one of this country’s oldest college alumni societies. Beverley Dalton was a former Trustee and the first chairwoman on the college’s board of trustees and served as chair of RMC’s last capital campaign.

“We have the potential and the opportunity to build on our exceptional foundation and become the model liberal arts college for the 21st century,” said Campaign Chair Macon F. Brock Jr. ’64, director and chairman of the board for Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. ”Our strength lies in our perennial commitment to the liberal arts and in the relationships we foster that result in extraordinary graduates—people who can think and solve problems and communicate. Together, we can ensure an extraordinary future for tomorrow’s students.” Brock also served as a former member and chair of the college’s Board of Trustees.

Phase One of RMC’s Master Plan is underway with several construction projects in progress or completed. Development of the Plan, which was approved in February 2009 by the college’s Board of Trustees, was a collaborative process involving faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and members of the community. Projects completed or currently underway include:

The renovation of two academic buildings, Fox and Haley Halls, was completed in fall 2010.

The new Hugh Stephens Baseball Field at Estes Park was completed in February 2011. The stadium, which features permanent grandstand seating, a new scoreboard and a 16-foot wall in left field, was made through a generous gift by Carol Estes-Williams and her husband, Clarence G. Williams Jr.

A new tennis complex opened in October 2010.

Andrews Hall, a 104-bed, suite-style freshmen residence facility, is currently under construction with an expected completion date of August 2011. The building will have LEED certification, a geothermal HVAC system and will include a central living area. The hall, named for retired dean of students and Professor Emeritus Ira L. Andrews III ’59, was made possible by a lead gift from Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon Jr. ’59 and his wife Stuart. Construction is being handled by English Construction Company, Inc., Lynchburg, Va.

Construction on the John B. Werner Pavilion at the McGraw-Page Library will begin in summer 2011. The 3,300-square-foot pavilion will provide a 24/7 study space and is expected to be complete in winter 2011.

The new football field will be moved to a north-south position and will be bordered by new residence halls on the north and south ends of the field. It is projected to be completed in July 2012.

Birdsong Residence Hall, a new apartment-style residence hall for upperclassmen, is projected to be completed by July 2013. Construction of the Hall is made possible through a generous gift from Constance and Thomas Birdsong ’49 and The Birdsong Corporation.

For more information on Building Extraordinary: The Campaign for Randolph-Macon College, contact Anne Marie Lauranzon at 804.752.7317, alauranz@rmc.edu.