Northwestern College announces final phase of $30 million science campaign

Northwestern College launched the final, public phase of the Discover Campaign for the sciences with an announcement of a $7 million lead gift at the college’s Legacy Celebration Banquet held Friday evening, Sept. 30. President Greg Christy also announced that four other gifts of more than $1 million have been pledged, helping bring the total amount secured to more than $18.3 million.

At the center of the $30 million Discover Campaign is a $24.5 million facility for the health and natural sciences. The 61,000-square-foot building will be constructed on the southwest corner of Northwestern’s campus green and will house classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices for the departments of biology, chemistry and nursing.

More than 300 of Northwestern’s 1,260 students are health or natural science majors pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, nursing, biochemistry, ecological science, or genetics, molecular and cellular biology. Northwestern also offers pre-professional tracks in medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and other fields.

Biology professor Dr. Sara Sybesma Tolsma, who is on the campaign leadership team, says the number of biology majors has doubled since she came to Northwestern in 1990. “In addition, the number of students in biology courses has increased by nearly 250 percent with the addition of majors like athletic training, exercise science and nursing that require science courses.”

Tolsma says the biology and chemistry departments have also experienced an increase in students’ interest in and demand for research opportunities. “Medical schools, physician assistant programs and other graduate programs in the healthcare professions expect applicants to have research experience. So to ensure our students are competitive, we need to provide opportunities for them to do research one-on-one or in small groups with us as faculty.” Tolsma says the increasing demand is stretching the faculty and lab resources of both the biology and chemistry departments beyond current capacity.

The new building will amplify Northwestern’s already strong program and reputation in the sciences, says Christy. “Many of our students come to Northwestern because they know they’ll get a rigorous, exceptional science education here,” he said, “one that will enable them to stand out whether they’re trying to get accepted to medical school or seeking a preferred placement as a nurse specialist.

“They also know they’ll get a theologically sound and expansive Christian education that will prepare them for the new discoveries and ethical considerations that are part of many of today’s health and science research careers.”

Campaign chairperson Dr. Bryan Den Hartog, a Northwestern alumnus and orthopedic surgeon in Des Moines, touted Northwestern’s potential in the sciences by pointing to his own experience. “Northwestern prepares you for medical school and prepares you spiritually. It set the spiritual foundation I have and gave me the reason to do what I do now,” he said at the banquet. “I’ve had the unique opportunity to share the gospel while on medical missions trips and training other orthopedic surgeons around the world. I was truly prepared for a life of ministry through the sciences.”

The Discover Campaign is raising $5.5 million for an endowment that will fund science student scholarships and research fellowships as well as maintain the building. To learn more about the campaign and see floor plans and architectural drawings of the planned science facility, visit discover.nwciowa.edu.