Evangel College President Mike Rakes on Tuesday talked about new progress and tutorial assignments coming to the university as aspect of its just lately launched strategic approach.
Rakes, the February job interview visitor for Springfield Enterprise Journal’s 12 Folks You Need to Know collection, claimed two jobs, upgraded theater lighting and a new marching band scholarship program, are built to boost Evangel’s university student working experience, a vital purpose for the president who’s six months into the task.
“A rising tide lifts all the boats,” explained Rakes, talking from Alamo Drafthouse Springfield. “That’s what we’re viewing. The kids are excited.”
The upgraded theater lighting is coming to Evangel by way of a donation from a non-public donor, the college introduced on Tuesday. This spring, LED lights and circuitry updates for the theater location in the Barnett Fine Arts Middle are predicted to value $50,000, according to a news release, upgrading the method to far more than 30 lighting configurations from two.
“These lighting upgrades will additional boost our students’ palms-on stage experience and increase the visible things of our numerous productions,” claimed Vickie Wisdom, professor of theater, in the release.
At the 12 People occasion yesterday, Rakes also reported college officers were in the system of reinvigorating the student marching band. He said the college is location apart 100 scholarships for the marching band as part of options to increase attendance.
“It really is likely to be awesome,” he said. “It differentiates Evangel from a great deal of other educational facilities.”
Arrived at this early morning, Evangel Director of Promoting and Communications Erin Hedlun mentioned the school’s marching band has been inactive for the previous few several years because of to a small variety of student individuals and COVID-19.
“His eyesight is that the band would go on to improve in range above the future many tutorial decades and develop into a focal point of our university,” Hedlun reported of Rakes’ scholarship program.
Evangel in December rolled out a trio of design and renovation jobs in the is effective to the tune of $1 million. A undertaking that includes outdoor basketball courts with communal patio seating was unveiled, as very well as college student union upgrades and a monument entry sign.
It’s part of an 18-thirty day period strategic system that Rakes is spearheading, he explained yesterday.
“We contact it the adaptable prepare,” he explained, noting it is really available and actionable by staff.
Beyond college student development and knowledge, branding also is a key concentrate, he stated.
Rakes instructed a money marketing campaign could be on the way in yet another 18 months or so.
“I keep owning this mad feeling that it can be Evangel’s flip now,” he reported.
