Campbell Hall launched the public phase of the school’s capital campaign, CH NEXT: The Campaign for The Viking Center, with a celebratory evening event on Saturday, September 24. Hundreds of community members gathered on the CH athletic field as a host of students representing senior athletes, high school engineering, the robotics team, theatre tech, high school sports broadcasting and journalism club, pilates/yoga/mindfulness, student mentors of the Creative Writing Enrichment Workshop, and elementary dance charged through the inflatable sports tunnel, energizing the crowd and fueling the Viking spirit. A reimagined rendition of the alma mater was performed by the high school pop band and the high school chorus sang a rousing version of the CH Fight Song.
Emceed by CH 5th grade teacher Wes Radulovich (“Mr. R.”), the event kicked off with a special video that featured actor and CH alumnus John David (“JD”) Washington ‘02. The video also highlighted faculty and students who shared their insights on why this facility is so important to the growth of the school and viewers got a sneak peek of the new facilities and campus transformation via an architectural “flythrough.” The Viking Center will be a 55,000 sq. ft. athletic, wellness, and academic facility that will usher in a new era of community connection, provide enhanced learning opportunities for students, and bring athletics, fitness, and wellness to the next level.
Head of School Julian Bull gave a stirring address, sharing how the capital campaign is mission-aligned and part of a multi-phase plan for the strategic development of Campbell Hall. CH NEXT Campaign Co-Chairs Ed Han and Toya Holiday announced the $45 million goal, $17.5 million of which has already been raised thanks to generous leadership gifts and pledges during the campaign’s “Quiet Phase.” CH plans to break ground for CH NEXT in June 2023 if the fundraising milestone of $35 million is reached.
The community then moved into the Garver Gym for a special cocktail reception where large format renderings were on display, giving everyone a chance to see up-close the vision for this exciting project. Suddenly, the future seemed present and it was clear that NEXT really does start NOW.
Click here to learn more about CH NEXT: The Campaign for the Viking Center and to view the campaign video. For questions or to schedule a conversation about how you can participate, contact Director of Advancement Kurt Johnson.