Fifty-five years ago, the members of The North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church and local Methodist churches had a brilliant and daring idea. Deciding that their town deserved a four-year college, these brave pioneers went out into the community canvassing funds to build a college from the ground up. They finally achieved their goal, saving enough money in 1956, opening the doors of then Methodist College, now Methodist University, in 1960 and congratulating their fi rst graduating class in 1964.

Every second Tuesday in February, supporters of Methodist University continue this tradition of gathering community support, when more than 100 volunteers go out into the community and collect funds from Fayetteville’s business owners and community leaders to provide scholarships for Methodist students.

This year, Loyalty Day will be held on February 8. Volunteers will be making phone calls and paying visits in the community to share information about Methodist University and the campaign’s “A Passion for Education” message.

“We are grateful to the members of the Methodist University Foundation and the more than 100 business people and individuals who volunteer their time to make personal visits on Loyalty Day to raise funds for scholarships for our students,” said Lauren Cook Wike, director of the Annual Fund and Alumni Affairs for Methodist University. “It says so much to the community that these volunteer representatives have given of their time to help provide for educational opportunities for others — that is why Loyalty Day has been successful over its 54-year history.”

Most importantly, Loyalty Day is about the students. Over 90 percent of Methodist University students received some form of scholarship or financial aid. Without this assistance, many of these students would not have access to a Methodist education. The funds raised during Loyalty Day are devoted solely to the support of student scholarships. There are over  2,100 students from 41 states and 30 countries that depend on the generosity of the Fayetteville, Cumberland County, community on Loyalty Day and throughout the year.
 

Wike noted that this year’s event has signifi cance in that it is the community’s fi rst introduction to the university’s new president, Dr. Ben Hancock. Hancock made his first public appearance on Thursday, Jan. 20 at the Chamber Coffee Club. He was introduced by Harvey Wright II, a graduate of the class of 1970 and now the chairman of the Methodist University Board of Trustees. Methodist traditionally sponsors the January Coffee Club to kick off its annual Loyalty Day campaign, and the board thought it a fi tting time to introduce Hancock to the community.

Dr. Hancock comes to Methodist from Ball State, where he served as vice president for University Advancement. Hancock earned a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies in 1974 and a master’s degree in education in 1975 from James Madison University in Virginia. He completed his doctorate at the University of Virginia in comparative and international education in 2004. Only the fourth president in the school’s history, Hancock was tapped for the position by the Board of Trustees in November 2010. He will offi cially take offi ce in March 2011. Hancock succeeds Dr. M. Elton Hendricks, who served as president of the university for 27 years. In his role as president, Hancock will also oversee the establishment of effective fundraising and alumni-relations strategies, systems, networks and practices.

In addition, he directly supervises the administrative areas of University Advancement, which comprises University Development, Advancement Services, International Advancement, Alumni Programs and the Alumni Center. In addition to the traditional solicitation in the community, Methodist is adding a unique event to this year’s Loyalty Day activities: a benefit concert featuring The Embers. The beach band has been named North Carolina’s offi cial musical ambassadors. For decades, The Embers have been making music by playing a mix of rhythm and blues and heart and soul.

Tickets are available now for the concert slated for Friday, Feb. 4, and can be purchased by visiting www.methodist.edu or by calling (910) 630-7167. For more information about Loyalty Day, please contact Lauren Wike at (910) 630-7167, e-mail to lwike@methodist.edu or visit www.methodist.edu and select “Development.”k