CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) presented Campbellsville University with $3 million in Congressional Designated Spending (CDS) and will be contributed to the construction of the new School of Business, Economics, and Technology building project.
The creation of this grant has been a two-year process of cooperation and partnership. John Chowning, Senior Advisor to the Campbellsville University President has played a key role in those partnerships. “Over the past two years, we worked closely with Congressman Comer and his excellent staff, with strong support from local and state legislative officials, to make this funding a reality. Congressman Comer has been a good friend to our community and region in his various roles – from State Representative to Commissioner of Agriculture to United States Congressman. And he has been a strong advocate for higher education and the Christian mission of Campbellsville University,” said Chowning.
With final approval of the grant, Campbellsville University faculty, staff and community members gathered in the Heilman Welcome Center on Thursday, Feb. 19, to welcome Comer and celebrate this monumental milestone.
“Today we celebrate the blessings of the community,” expressed Campbellsville University President, Dr. Joseph Hopkins. He continued, “Values of faith and family, these values are strong and woven into the fabric of this community. I’m grateful today that we can invite one who inspires those very ideals here to our campus.”
Hopkins was joined on stage by Comer to celebrate the funding given to Campbellsville University.
Congressman Comer addressed the audience, “Because you’re playing such a leading role in the community, you’re getting kids in here to learn what they’re going to do and hopefully be a part of this area and continue to see this area grow and prosper.”
“So, I’m very grateful right now to present $3 million. Hopefully, that will be an important piece of the puzzle. I know it costs to build anything right now. But I think what you see here is a university that can take $3 million and stretch it further.”
Hopkins outlined the plan for the $3 million grant. “Our School of Business, Economics and Technology is our largest school at Campbellsville University. With thousands of students, not
just here in Taylor County, but in Louisville, in Los Angeles, even some now in Canada. We have students that stretch around this country and beyond.”
Hopkins continued, “That school needs a new home. For years, it has been the hope and the prayer of this institution that we might build a new structure for the School of Business, Economics and Technology, and in fact, we are going to do that. This $3 million is speeding us on our way.”
At the end of the ceremony, Hopkins made a final address, “Inside our mission statement, there is a principal phrase that has really been the centerpiece of that mission statement for decades. And that is the principle of servant leadership. We intend to build servant leaders here at this institution.”
Comer was welcomed back to the stage as well as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jeanette Parker, to present Comer with the Campbellsville University Servant Leadership Award.
After the ceremony, Dr. Benji Kelly, Vice President for Advancement, shared the roadmap for this new building. “The New School of Business Building will be a tremendous addition to Campbellsville University. This project, projected to cost in excess of $16 million, will provide a first-class experience for our business students as well as improve the academic spaces on campus. This Congressional appropriation moves the total raised to over $7 million. The project is projected to begin in the summer of 2028.”
Dr. Preston Jones, Dean of the School of Business, Economics, and Technology, outlined the advancements in education that the new building will provide, “faculty will employ advanced learning technology to prepare business students as Servant Leaders. The new building shall become a place where students can learn and practice the tools required to thrive in our free-market economy, create value for their organizations, compete globally with integrity, and build prosperity for their families and communities. On behalf of colleagues and students, we are grateful to the State of Kentucky for this generous investment in the future of Campbellsville University.”
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs, including doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, associate and certificate programs. For complete information, please visit www.campbellsville.edu.
By Brandon Roberts, Staff Writer, Office of Marketing and Communications