Alumni Profile: Laura Bannister '07

Posted May 29, 2008

Why does Laura Bannister ’07, a smart and quirky farm girl from Virginia, love theatre?

“I love the power that live storytelling has on a group of people—the audience,” she says. “It is a privilege to be a physical part of telling stories that move and change people.”

While studying theatre at Covenant, Laura Bannister ’07 acted in seven plays, produced four plays, and directed two plays. Now she works at Taproot, a professional theatre company run by Christians in Seattle.

“Covenant is the place where I grew up, where I went from girl to woman,” reflects Laura. “It’s the place where I learned my craft, where I went from uncertainty to passion and direction. It’s a place of intellectual challenge, where I struggled with my faith, where I learned to trust people, where I learned to rely on other Christians. It is a home.”

BUILD Campaign Hits Goal Early, Reaches Forward

Posted April 28, 2008

Celebrate with us! Through the Lord’s gracious provision, we have reached our $31,000,000 goal for the BUILD campaign. This announcement comes much earlier than we expected—less than three years into our five-year campaign!

We began this campaign with prayer, and God has seen fit to bless our efforts tremendously, using many friends of the College to uphold and strengthen Covenant as it pursues its distinctive mission. We offer our heartfelt thanks to those who have given so much—in prayer, in sacrificial gifts of both time and resources, and in introducing us to new friends who believe in and support the mission of Covenant College. Thank you for your generosity and for your faith in the work God is doing through Covenant! We are so grateful for how this campaign has included the whole Covenant community and extended Covenant family.

As we look ahead to the final two years of the five-year campaign, we are thrilled that God’s incredible provision allows us to reach forward in faith, building on the momentum of the BUILD campaign thus far. In considering the future needs of the College, it has become apparent that the scope of our plans needs to widen in pace with the scope of God’s provision.

Alumni Profile: Jonathan Wilson '06

Posted April 17, 2008

During his time at Covenant, Jonathan Wilson ’06 pursued studies in biology, psychology, and interdisciplinary studies, before graduating with a degree in economics & community development and a minor in youth ministry. Now, two years after graduation, he’s back at Covenant taking prerequisites for medical school and shouldering a variety of responsibilities—from mentoring high school students at a local church to coordinating the annual alumni phonathon.

“Running the phonathon has been a great experience,” says Jonathan, who hails from Augusta, GA. “It’s been really fun to hear other people’s stories of what they loved and memories they had. There are people scattered all over the nation praying for this place. I’ve seen that at work. You get out and you meet Covenant alumni from all over, and you have this connection, this bond of Christ and even of prayer, that in a sense they’ve prayed for you before. Prayer changes your attitude of how you see things happening at Covenant, leaving room for God to work.”

Chattanooga Campaign Dinner Exceeds Expectations

Posted April 16, 2008

On February 26, over 400 of Covenant’s alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends gathered at The Chattanoogan for the biggest fundraising event in the history of Covenant College. Among them were nearly 100 new friends of the College who were being introduced to the distinctive mission of Covenant for the very first time.

“It wasn’t your typical fundraiser,” reflected Derek Halvorson ’93. “It was thought-provoking, spirit-moving, and not about Covenant-for-Covenant’s-sake, but Covenant for the kingdom’s sake.”

Covenant Hosts Campaign Dinner in Chattanooga, Feb. 26

Posted February 12, 2008

Covenant College will host a BUILD campaign dinner at The Chattanoogan on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Plans Announced for Construction of Baseball & Softball Fields

Posted January 14, 2008

Covenant College announced today its plans for construction of a baseball field and softball field at its Lookout Mountain campus. Covenant's young baseball and softball teams have been playing at off-campus locations. The addition of on-campus facilities will be a huge boon to the growing programs.

Head baseball coach Doug Simons said he is "excited about the progess we are making on the baseball field and what it will mean to this baseball program. Covenant has hired a top-notch architectural firm and picked a beautiful site. This is a huge step in the right direction."

Office for Advancement Holiday Hours

Posted December 20, 2007

In celebration of Christmas and New Year's Day, Covenant College's Office for Advancement will be closed Monday-Wednesday, December 24-26 and January 1.

The office will be open during its regular hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday-Friday, December 27-28, as well as Monday, December 31.

You are welcome to call toll-free 800.574.6063 if you have any questions or would like to make a year-end gift.

Covenant Receives $1 Million Grant from Anonymous Foundation

Posted November 16, 2007

Dr. Niel Nielson, president of Covenant College, is delighted to announce that on Thursday, November 8, 2007, the College learned that a foundation, which desires to remain anonymous, has awarded Covenant College a $1 million grant toward the renovation of Carter Hall as part of the BUILD campaign, Covenant’s current $31 million effort.

President Nielson added, “We are so grateful for this grant in support of a beloved landmark. Carter Hall is what brought Covenant College to Chattanooga in 1964 and we want to preserve and celebrate this historic building for our students and also for the community surrounding the College. Carter Hall and its tower can be seen from many places in Chattanooga and the building is an important part of the social and visual history we share with our community. We are committed to preserving that.”

John Sweet '00

Posted October 31, 2007

Business owner and entrepreneur John Sweet’s romance with bread began with the village bakeries of Germany, but it didn’t end there.

“I remember really enjoying the way that food was much more central to the lives of folks over there; from the midday meal being the main meal of the day, to the abundance and regularity of farmers markets, and the more regular (often daily) purchases of fresh food,” explains John. “In many urban settings, there are literally bakeries on every corner, and every village has its own bakery. I found these places to be very stimulating in terms of the senses they engaged, as a customer or even as a passerby.”

New Residence Hall Is Named

Posted October 19, 2007

It was announced on October 19, 2007, that Covenant College's newly opened residence hall has been named The Lowell and Nadine Andreas Residence Hall.

Mr. Lowell Andreas, along with his late wife, Nadine, has been one of the most significant supporters of Covenant College.

Why We Give: Todd and Theresa Riggs

Posted October 12, 2007

Can a little bit of giving every month make a difference?

Ask Todd and Theresa Riggs, two Covenant alumni who have given faithfully since their graduation from Covenant. Through regular monthly gifts over the course of 14 years, their impact now reaches into the thousands.

“Our desire to give to the school through the years has been born out of gratitude,” says Todd ’94. His wife, Theresa ’93, agrees. “We feel very blessed to be able to give financially to Covenant,” she says. “We have been giving for most of our married life and plan to continue as long as the Lord allows.”

Married for 14 years and now living in Chesapeake, Virginia, with their four children, Elyssa, Jesse, Aaron, and Emma, Todd and Theresa look back on their time at Covenant with great affection.

New Residence Hall Open

Posted October 9, 2007

After much anticipation, the new residence hall is now home to over 100 students! All four floors are teeming with activity and excitement, as residents tackle their studies and activities, and undertake to transform their rooms and halls into a “home away from home.”

Freshmen and upperclassmen alike are impressed with the new building and its community. “The girls on my hall are amazing,” says Stacey Hoksbergen ’11, one of the residents who enjoy spectacular views from the rooms on the topmost floor. Her hallmate, Meagan Stephens ’11, agrees: “I’ll probably try to stay in this hall all four years.”