Tabor breaks ground on townhouses
Tabor College is two big steps closer to its goal of adding new residence halls to its campus.
During groundbreaking ceremonies for the new student townhouses Sunday afternoon, Tabor College president Larry Nikkel also announced the successful conclusion of the school's "Continuing a Legacy of Distinction" capital campaign.
Nikkel said Tabor had raised the $1.2 million needed to qualify for a $750,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation, of Tulsa, Okla.
The grant is the largest single gift in the capital campaign, which began in October 2005, and the second largest gift ever given to the college.
"This completes the residence hall portion of the campaign, leaving the Tabor Fund and endowment portion to be completed," Nikkel said. "We hope to be able to complete the remainder of the campaign in the next five weeks."
Groundbreaking for the townhouses occurred following remarks by Nikkel and Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke.
Additional remarks were made by Lyndon Vix, chairman of the board of directors, Kelsi Suderman, student body president, and Eric Codding, dean of students.
Jim Elliott, vice president for advancement, David Riffel, architect, and Roger Penner, construction manager, joined the five speakers in the actual ceremony.
"We are grateful to God, to our advancement staff, and to the thousands of people who responded to the need for improved residence halls," Nikkel said. "We now look forward to this dream becoming reality."
