FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2009
 
Growth at Fork Union Military Academy Continues
$10.1 Million Cash Gift Accelerates Barracks Construction

Fork Union, VA - With the economy slumping and credit markets crunching, many private boarding schools are worrying about dwindling enrollments and decreasing demand. With the number of building permits issued and new construction starts sinking to a record low in December, many schools are delaying their capital projects and rescheduling planned campus improvements during these lean times.

Not so at Fork Union Military Academy.

The Academy's enrollment at both its August 2008 and January 2009 entry points reached its highest mark in four years, and the number of new students enrolled is the highest in at least a decade. In addition, the schedule for the construction of a new barracks facility for students has been moved up with its groundbreaking expected in 2009, not 2010 as originally anticipated.

What is so different in Fork Union, Virginia? Why is the Academy able to buck these prevailing national trends? To hear the school's President, Lt. Gen. John E. Jackson, Jr., tell it, the answer is simple. "This is the Lord's school," says General Jackson, "and He is in the life-changing business here."

Construction of New Barracks to Begin in 2009
Officials at Fork Union Military Academy announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 that the funding required to begin construction of the school's new barracks facility was in hand and the Barracks Campaign Cabinet voted to move ahead with the building project at its meeting on January 22, 2009. The Academy's policies generally require that at least half of the estimated total construction be in hand prior to breaking ground on a capital project. The new barracks facility is expected to cost approximately $20 million to construct. School officials say that over $12 million is currently available to begin construction.

The Chairman of the Barracks Campaign Cabinet, George Currin, explained that the Academy was eager to move forward on this project. "In challenging times like these it's easy to come up with reasons to put off construction of a new barracks," said Currin, himself a FUMA alumnus, "but I look around and I can see at least 500 reasons why now is the right time to build," referring to the number of cadets on the campus.

The Right Gift at the Right Time
Planning for the new barracks had begun at least three years ago when engineers determined that the existing barracks buildings were not good candidates for additional renovation. The school's Board of Trustees decided that a new barracks facility would be built from scratch, replacing the existing Snead Hall and Memorial Hall facilities, built in 1923 and 1941 respectively.
 
In September 2008 an initial fund-raising appeal was sent to the school's alumni and supporters and contributions began arriving. A construction start date of 2010 or perhaps 2011 was hoped for depending on how well fund-raising efforts proceeded.

By December 2008, with the nation's economy foundering, the barracks project seemed to hang in limbo. Almost $2 million had been raised for the project so far but school leaders were unsure whether to press forward or pull back. While the depressed construction field meant that the time was right to build because contractors were anxious for work, the depressed financial markets meant that contributions to the school might be slower to arrive than needed.

It was at this moment of uncertainty that a donor stepped forward, unexpectedly, to offer the school almost precisely the amount of money needed to begin construction of the barracks.

Jerry and Laura Jacobson of Sugarcreek, Ohio had enrolled their two young sons in the Middle School at Fork Union Military Academy in 2006. In the intervening two-and-a-half years, the boys had done well and their parents were impressed with the work of the Academy. When the Jacobsons learned that the Academy was raising funds for a new barracks, they decided to help out -- with a gift of $10.1 million.

This gift, the largest single cash contribution to the Academy in its history, provided enough funds on hand to accelerate the start date for construction. In appreciation for this generous and timely support, the Academy has decided to name the new barracks Jacobson Hall.

Jacobson Hall
Jacobson Hall will be a three-story structure with 250 two-man rooms contained in five separate "company wings," one for each company of the Upper School Corps of Cadets. The building will offer about 100,000 square feet, almost double the area of the current Snead Hall and Memorial Hall facilities combined. The new barracks will occupy the area between Snead Hall and the outdoor track. Once completed, both Snead Hall and Memorial Hall will be removed.


Fund-Raising Efforts Continue
In addition to the cost of barracks construction, school officials estimate another $2.5 million will be needed for site preparation, barracks furnishings, and other ancillary costs, bringing the total amount remaining to be raised to approximately $10.5 million.

Many naming opportunities still exist within the barracks project, and the Academy's Development Office continues to seek new gifts, large and small, to complete the funding for this project.

The school's most recent Capital Campaign ended in July, 2007 and exceeded its $29 million goal by about $4 million. Over $8.6 million of that money still remains to be collected on pledges made by donors to that Capital Campaign, with some of those pledges not due to be paid in full until 2017. Academy officials say that if some of those donors are willing to accelerate their payment schedules on those pledges, those capital gifts could be used in this building project.

The Leap of Faith
"Our school is an anachronism in many ways," notes Academy President, General Jackson. "We're all boys, military, Christian, located in rural Virginia. Yet for as long as we've remained committed to our mission, we have continued to grow and meet the needs of generations of young men for over 110 years."

"Some of these young men may win trophies for high jumps and hurdles and other feats of skill," Jackson continues, "but I'm most proud when we can demonstrate to them the blessing and success that comes from taking the leap of faith."
 

Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, is a college preparatory military boarding school for young men in Grades 6 through 12 and postgraduates. Affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and open to those of all religious denominations, Fork Union was founded in 1898 and has a rich tradition promoting character, leadership, and scholarship.