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Members of the Board of Trustees make their way towards Jennings Hall for the Dedication. On the way, they were greeted by faculty, staff and students who lined the sidewalk to the new building.

More than 300 faculty, staff, students and friends of Union gathered outside on the cool December morning in front of the new building to celebrate the dedication of the first academic building to be built in more than 15 years on the expanding campus.

"This new building will meet pressing needs for our growing campus, providing state-of-the-art facilities for our music and communication arts departments and much needed space for Union's nationally acclaimed Christian Studies Department," said Union President David S. Dockery. "We thank God for His continued blessings to this university."

Jim Ayers, a Union trustee and owner of First Bank in Jackson, was the main benefactor for the new building which will also house the R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies. The building is named for Ayers' grandparents, William and Laura Jennings.

"They were the kind of simple, God-fearing, honest kind of people who made this great country what it is today," said Ayers to those attending, as he gave a brief tribute to the couple.

Ayers also honored his younger brother, Anthony, whose name endorses the Ayers Courtyard, located behind the building. Anthony Ayers died as an infant.

Other primary benefactors for the building include R.C. Ryan, the Hammons Foundation, ARAMark, Porter Cable/Pentair Corporation, E.E. Hays, Friends and family of Kenneth Hartley, Gary Taylor, the Miller Foundation and many others.

Trustee Jim Ayers, President David S. Dockery, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Gary Taylor, and Trustee Shelby Massey participate in the ribbon cutting during the dedication of Jennings Hall.

During the dedication, an original hymn, by Union alum John Alan Chamness, written in honor and memory of Dr. Kenneth Hartley, was sung. Hartley was a long-time music professor at Union who passed away earlier this year. The new recital hall is named in his honor with gifts from family, friends and area churches being used to sponsor the recital hall, which is located on the first floor of Jennings Hall.

Following the ceremony, a luncheon was held to honor inaugural members of the newly created President's Academy, a special society which recognizes the supporters of Union who have given more than $100,000 in a given year, or more than $1 million in a lifetime.

1999-2000 members honored were: George and Vivian Jones Estate, John W. and Marie King, the Reverend R.C. Ryan and Gary and Lisa Taylor.

Lifetime Members included: The Andersen Foundation, James and Sharon Ayers, Benard Blasingame, Benny and Norma Fesmire, Hammons Charitable Foundation, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, James and Carolyn McAfee and the McAfee Foundation, Opha Miller and the Miller Foundation, the Tennessee Baptist Convention and Roy L. White.