Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Methodist Loyalty Day Slated a STAFF REPORT With the rising cost of college tuition, students are looking long and hard at what schools offer not only in terms of majors and advanced studies, but also in terms of fi nancial aid as student loans and grants become harder to come by. One institution that has always rated high in that category is Fayetteville's own Methodist University. A small, private liberal arts university, Methodist prides itself on its ability to help students afford an education. Annually, the university devotes 27 percent of its budget to scholarships, awarding more than $15.1 million in fi nancial aid to its students in 2011. That kind of giving is made possible through the donations and support of the community and the school's alumni. Much of that support is garnered each year during the school's Loyalty Day campaign that reaches out to the community and former students for their support. This year, Loyalty Day is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 7, and organizers hope that the community and former students will make the day a success. Chairing this year's Loyalty Day is Don Price, president of LaFayette Ford Lincoln. Price, a businessman, father of a Methodist alumnus and the employer of several Methodist graduates, is a member of the Methodist University Board of Trustees. "I know your investment in Methodist and its students with a gift for scholarship is vital," said Price. "It is now more important than ever to increase the number of people with college degrees in our state and country." In a letter to Methodist supporters, Price noted, " Multiple studies indicate that the U.S. is lagging behind other countries in this area, which is affecting our competitiveness as a nation relative to other economies around the world." He added that without the support afforded students through the university's fi nancial aid program, many Methodist students would be unable to pursue their goal of earning a degree. Further, he noted that a number of Methodist students are from Cumberland County and choose, like his son,Tim, to remain here following graduation. "Methodist University has a history of developing unique academic programs in response to community and state-wide workforce needs," said Price. "This vision, combined with the learning experiences and research opportunities that Methodist offers its students, makes it uniquely qualifi ed to produce graduates who will lead our region into a brighter future. Your gift is an investment in our future as a community." Price is not alone in soliciting support for Loyalty Day. Several Methodist graduates who have achieved great success join him in refl ecting on the benefi t of a Methodist education and the importance of Loyalty Day in the lives of the university's students. Retired Army Lt. Gen. James M. Link, now the president of Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., in Huntsville, Ala., noted, "Methodist College provided an excellent Liberal Arts education that has served me well in both the military and commercial realms. Above all, it gave me the ability to think critically and to communicate effectively." "I had no idea when I was at Methodist College what my career would be but higher education was certainly not on my radar screen at that time. At Methodist College, I learned how to think, how to learn and gained confi dence that I could learn anything if I worked hard enough. I will always be grateful to the Methodist College faculty, staff, administrators and donors for providing me this transforming experience that has served me so well in my academic life and career in higher education," said Dr. James K. Weeks, the dean of the Bryan School of Business, University of North Carolina Greensboro. On Feb. 7, Methodist supporters will be out in full force asking for donations from not only Methodist graduates, but also members of the community, which hearkens back to the fi rst Loyalty Day in 1955 when the community came together to raise money to start the school. If you would like to donate or become a corporate supporter of the university, visit the website at www.methodist.edu/alum_dev/dev_loyalty.htm. For more information about Loyalty Day, contact Brandi Cobb at 910 630-7169. 8 UCW FEBRUARY 1-7, 2012 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM