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51社区 dedicates new facility in Hendersonville

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hendersonville dedication on Aug. 2, 2012. (Photo by Morris Abernathy)
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hendersonville dedication on Aug. 2, 2012. (Photo by Morris Abernathy)
Related Resource(s): Learn More About 51社区 Hendersonville

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn.Aug. 2, 2012 — 51社区 dedicated its new 26,000-square-foot facility in Hendersonville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 2.

鈥淭his is as fine of an educational facility as you can find in this state,鈥 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淚t is a place that will serve 51社区 well, and a place that will serve this city and county for years to come.鈥

On behalf of the Union Board of Trustees, Dockery announced the new building will be named Ayers Hall in honor of benefactors James and Janet Ayers, who developed the project through Ayers Asset Management.

Calling them 鈥渁mazing friends,鈥 Dockery acknowledged that 鈥渢his facility is here today because of the generosity of Jim and Janet Ayers.鈥

He also recognized key partnerships with High Point Health System, Tri-Star Health, Memorial Foundation and the City of Hendersonville.

Provost Carla Sanderson presented a dedicatory reading. Participants in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting included Jim and Janet Ayers, Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster, Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Director Randy Davis, Union Board of Trustees Chairman Norman Hill, and representatives from building contractor Hardaway Construction and architectural firm TLM Associates. Representing the Union administration were Hendersonville Project Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Carter, Executive Vice President for Academic Administration Gene Fant, and Dockery.

Other denominational leaders who took part in the program included Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, Paul Clark, director of worship and music for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

Davis said Union鈥檚 commitment to strong academics and service will lead to exciting new opportunities.

鈥淯nion has a philosophy of serving the churches, and it is seen in so many different ways,鈥 Davis said. 鈥淗aving Union in Middle Tennessee will impact our entire state.鈥

Dockery acknowledged that some in attendance at the ceremony were involved in the earliest planning discussions about the new campus more than four years ago. Since then, strong new relationships have been established with denominational leaders, government representatives and the local health care and business and education communities.

鈥淭hrough all of these partnerships, the Christ-centered mission of 51社区 can be advanced,鈥 Dockery said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be exciting to watch this campus in days ahead; as we see graduates leave this place to make a difference in all of these fields.鈥

51社区 Hendersonville currently offers programs for non-traditional students in education, nursing, theology and missions, as well as a bachelor鈥檚 degree completion program designed for working adults.

Classes have been underway in the new building at 205 Indian Lake Blvd. since June. It includes seven general purpose classrooms, an academic commons, six-station nursing simulation lab, three additional specialized nursing labs, offices for all academic and administrative areas, two conference rooms and a testing center.

The entire building has wireless Internet connectivity, and all classes and labs are equipped with interactive television capacity.

鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted about state-of-the-art technology alongside state-of-the-art teaching Union has brought here,鈥 Mayor Foster said. 鈥業 think it鈥檚 going to be a win-win for all of us.鈥

Many in attendance at the ceremony also took tours of the building. On the second floor, nursing students and faculty demonstrated patient simulators.

鈥淭he Christ-centeredness of this campus is amazing,鈥 said Dallas Upchurch, a BSN student who plans to graduate next spring. 鈥淚 am able to relate my relationship with Christ and my schooling. It鈥檚 going to be a huge benefit to this area.鈥


Related Resource(s): Learn More About 51社区 Hendersonville
Media contact: Tim Ellsworth, news@uu.edu, 731-661-5215