II high hopes for the future II Mike Williams, vice president for Advancement, talks to a prospective donor in September. Williams, who was named to the position this year, worked to raise more than $135 million for the Eagle's Wings campaign, which helped provide scholarship money for students. (Photo by Melissa Wilson) Or. Dean Priest, vice president for Academic Affairs, and seniors Ashley Gargis and Sarah Backus chat in front of the Administration Building in September. Priest graduated from Harding Col– lege in 1961 with a degree in mathematics. (Photo by Amy Beene) Mel Sansom, vice president for finance, speaks with sophomore Rebecca DeRamus in front of Keller Hall Sept. 10. Sansom, who began serving as vice president in 2002, oversaw the university's finances. (Photo by Amy Beene) 136 1/ leadership MikeWilliams helps Eagle'sWings fly Called Harding University's most ambitious fund-raising effort, the Ea– gle's Wings Campaign will supply funds for student scholarshi ps, new buildings and long-term security for the university, Mike Williams, vice president for Advancement, said. Williams, who served as assis– tant vice president for admissipns and student financial services for more than five yea rs, was named to the new vice president position this summer. The goal for the Eagle's Wings campaign was $135 million over five years. The plan called for $16 million for scholarship funding, $22 million for c;:a pital projects and $12 million for restricted needs. The larg– est portion, $85 million, will be used to increase the endowment. The campaign, launched July 1 by Williams, President David Burks and Dr. JimCarr, executive vice president, was in the quiet stage of planning during the fall. During the qu iet stage, the ad– vancement team met privately with prospecti ve donors. "Many colleges launch a quiet phase and talk to best contributors to let them in on what their plans are, [and] let them get behind proj– ects they are passiona te about," Wil– liams said. TheGUnpaignapp~cheddonors of several kinds, Burks said . "One of the first things we do is go to faculty and staff members to lask for financial}commitments over five years," Burks said. Along w ith soliciting faculty and staff, the advancement team approached donors in private and corporate sectors. "We're going to the four corners - alwnnl,committed Christians, cor– porate entities and foundations," Wil– liams said. U[Weare] basically going to anyone." Once completed, the quiet phase gave way to the implementation phase. This phase incorporated techniques including personal visits, diect mail, aggressive phone marketing and the Internet to reach donors. "[It can] broaden the outreach to organizations that don't come from the church of Christ but ap– plaud what Harding stands for," Williams said. Williams said even though he has changed job titles this summer he has kept the same focus. " Tcontinue to try to make our school affordable to more people," he said. "I hope I can create scholar– ships that allow others to experience Harding." - Andrea Martin
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