Hanover College Launches $110 Million Bicentennial Campaign Largest in Its History

Will ensure Hanover College’s continued ability to fulfill its critical educational mission for years

Hanover College has entered the public phase of its $110 million Bicentennial Campaign—the largest fundraising effort in the College’s history. The campaign’s very successful initial phase has already secured more than $99 million toward the $110 million goal. The Bicentennial Campaign, which concludes on June 30, 2027, will ensure Hanover College’s continued ability to fulfill its critical educational mission for years to come.

“When the Trustees conceived the Bicentennial Campaign, none of us could have imagined the level of excitement the campaign and its priorities generated,” said Hanover College President Lake Lambert, Ph.D. “Now that we’ve entered the public phase of the campaign, we invite all our alumni, students and friends of the college to join us in this historic effort. Together we will create the foundation for the next 100 years of Hanover College.”

Bicentennial Campaign enhances academic and community experiences for students

Hanover College is Indiana’s oldest private, four-year college, and this historic capital campaign will significantly bolster its reach and impact for generations. Funds raised during the campaign will provide essential resources to attract and retain the best and brightest students, as well as recruit mission-driven faculty and staff. Campaign priorities focus on supporting academic programs, fostering holistic educational experiences and enhancing world-class facilities, such as:

· Funding new and expanded student scholarships

· Enhancing Impact Hanover Fund to support students with critical financial needs

· Ensuring campus beautification and facility enhancements

· Creating endowed academic and athletic positions

· Advancing community investment and partnerships

One of the campaign’s key remaining priorities is the construction of a theatre and community arts center on the upper level of Parker Auditorium. This renovation would finalize renovations to the iconic campus building, which reopened last fall after completion of the state-of-the-art Hanover Business and Entrepreneur Center on Parker’s lower level.

“As a proud Hanover alum, I am so grateful to our Board of Trustees, community and business partners, alumni, faculty and staff, for their generous contributions and belief in our mission,” said Elaine Kops-Bedel, Chair of the Hanover College Board of Trustees. “The Bicentennial

Campaign was created to support the goals and priorities of our five-year strategic plan to ensure that the next century of Hanover College is even more successful than our first two centuries.”

Priorities include delivering on Hanover’s commitment to increase enrollment and to create an even more welcoming community, enhance the offering of high-impact educational and extracurricular opportunities for learning and career-track preparation, expand graduate degree programs, improve alumni engagement, foster employee wellbeing, and update campus facilities.

“It has been an honor for my wife, Judy, and me to serve as campaign chairs for the Bicentennial Campaign – the most significant fundraising effort in the history of Hanover College. While our campaign goals are ambitious, the generosity of our partners, the Board of Trustees, alumni, faculty and staff, and many others have proven that it is achievable,” said Mike Zeddies, Hanover College Board of Trustees Member and Chair of the Bicentennial Campaign. “Each gift matters, and we hope that everyone who appreciates the impact of Hanover College will consider becoming a part of this historic campaign.”

The Bicentennial Campaign represents a transformative moment for Hanover College, ensuring its mission thrives for generations to come. For more information on Hanover College and the Bicentennial Campaign, please visit hanover.edu/campaign or contact Melba Rodriguez, vice president for advancement, at rodriguez@hanover.edu.