The Catholic College of the South
Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
It is a beautiful day on campus as the semester comes to a close. Everyone is preparing to depart for Thanksgiving and remote final exams the following week. Please watch the video update to learn more about some of the wonderful academic and athletic accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students.
God Bless,
My nephew is three years old. He鈥檚 a funny, shy little guy, and he doesn鈥檛 much like the pool. So when my sister explained to him how the carpool line would work at his new preschool, he imagined a different scenario than the one she was trying to describe. A long pause followed her question, 鈥淒o you understand, buddy?鈥 And then a little, determined voice from the backseat said, 鈥淵es. I will be brave. I will close my eyes and jump in.鈥
Ever since I heard the story, I鈥檝e had this quote on a sticky note at the base of my computer screen. I put it where I can see it every day because – for all the truly beautiful and inspiring words I鈥檝e been blessed to encounter in philosophy, in poetry and literature, and in the stunningly great texts of our Western canon – I can remember few things that have ever cut with so little ceremony across all my distraction and self-consciousness. 鈥淚 will be brave. I will close my eyes and jump in.鈥
As human beings we enjoy complexity. It鈥檚 delicious to delve deep into a question, or explore a difficult puzzle, or relish the symphonic workings of a natural phenomenon. People are complex and interesting; life is complex and interesting; and our emotions and relationships do and should reflect this complexity. It鈥檚 good to rejoice in the playful and profound multiplicity-in-unity that fills creation. But sometimes we forget, also, that 鈥渙ne thing alone is necessary.鈥 There鈥檚 a reason Christ has to remind us to 鈥渂ecome like little children.鈥
My nephew understands what it means to be brave. He can鈥檛 dispute the question in existential terms or tell a thematically complex story about fortitude. And he had trouble grasping what a carpool line is. But he also sees through to the heart of something important – and with a clarity and a moral honesty I often fail to match in my own life.
When we talk about the benefits of a specifically Benedictine liberal arts education, we don鈥檛 typically mention humility. But the fact that one of the ten Benedictine hallmarks grounds us in our littleness is actually a profound gift because – as we go about the good and necessary work of developing and maturing our human capacities of body, mind, and soul, becoming all that we were created to be – humility reminds us of our own, beloved smallness, within which a child鈥檚 innocent simplicity always has something to teach us.
This weekend, as we approach the beautiful season of Advent, let’s remember that the God who became a little child for our sake also speaks to us in the humblest, simplest of ways.
海角社在线 Announces Selection of Architect for New Performing Arts Center
Belmont, N.C. (Nov. 20, 2024) 鈥 Following an extensive research process and significant community input, 海角社在线 announces Little Diversified Architectural Consulting (Little) as the architect for its highly anticipated new Visual and Performing Arts Center. In October 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $9 million in funding for the center as part of its biennial budget. Since then, the Abbey has created a Community Leaders’ Advisory Committee, with more than 40 college and community leaders, that has worked diligently to plan for the performing arts center鈥檚 construction.
The college selected Little as the project architect because of the firm鈥檚 expertise in designing world-class performing arts spaces, along with their commitment to creating a facility that will serve as a vibrant hub for artistic expression and cultural enrichment. Little has designed numerous notable regional projects including Gaston Day School鈥檚 Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Visual & Performing Arts Center, Warlick Family YMCA, Charlotte Catholic High School’s Fine Arts Center, Central Piedmont Community College’s Overcash Academic & Performing Arts Center, Queens University of Charlotte鈥檚 Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for Arts and Civic Engagement, and Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC.
鈥淲e look forward to partnering with 海角社在线 and the surrounding region to bring their vision to reality,鈥 says Tom Balke, AIA, Community Studio Principal at Little. 鈥淐reating a performance and cultural space that provides unique experiences while reflecting this community鈥檚 aspirations is an important driver of the design outcomes.鈥
Little鈥檚 experience, combined with a dedication to honoring the Abbey鈥檚 Catholic heritage and Benedictine values through thoughtful architectural design, makes them ideally suited to bring the committee鈥檚 vision to life. As the project moves forward, Little will work closely with the college and local community leaders to develop a comprehensive plan for a 1,000-seat theater.
The new performing arts center will allow the college and surrounding area to enjoy theater, visual and performing arts, art exhibitions, and other educational and cultural events in a beautiful, welcoming, first-rate facility. The state-of-the-art venue will feature versatile performance spaces, a theatrical scene workshop, wardrobe area, event space, and exhibition areas 鈥 each meticulously crafted to enhance the audience experience and to support a wide range of artistic disciplines.
鈥淲e are thrilled to have Little Diversified Architectural Consulting on board for this landmark project,鈥 said Phil Brach, Vice President of College Relations at Belmont Abbey and a representative of the Community Leaders’ Advisory Committee. 鈥淭heir innovative designs and attention to detail perfectly align with our vision for the Visual and Performing Arts Center. We are confident that they will create a space that not only meets the needs of our community but also becomes a beacon of artistic excellence, known throughout the state.鈥
To guide the venue鈥檚 development, the Community Leaders鈥 Advisory Committee launched an extensive research phase, which included surveying members of the Advisory Committee and other potential community stakeholders. They also conducted more than 10 tours of other Performing Arts Centers, as聽well as a comprehensive study of surrounding venues, to ensure the new center would meet community needs and expectations.
Reeves McGlohon, retired superintendent of Gaston County Schools and a member of the advisory committee, remarked, “Belmont Abbey is to be commended for putting together an advisory group to provide input into planning for this project.聽 They have supported the advisory group and have listened to what we have had to say.聽 There is no doubt in my mind that the work of the advisory group in conjunction with the Abbey will lead to a final product that will meet the needs of the college and the community at large.”聽
As part of the new visual and performing arts center project, the Haid Theatre at 海角社在线 will also undergo renovation. While the theater has served the community well, it no longer meets current needs, and feedback from community partners highlighted the importance of preserving the 200-seat theater alongside the development of the new venue.
Debbie Windley, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for 海角社在线 and a member of the advisory committee shares, “We are thankful for strong community, corporate, and legislative support for this project. Completion of the Visual and Performing Arts Center will be a great complement to the One Gaston 2040 plan that has a focus on the celebration of the cultural offerings that will continue to grow and thrive in Gaston County – making this community a hub for cultural excellence.”聽
Donny Hicks, Director of Economic and Community Development for Gaston County, added, “The visual and performing arts center will be a huge asset to us in the recruitment of people and companies and in creating the kind of environment in which people want to live.”
This collaborative approach will ensure that the new center meets the college鈥檚 needs as well as the diverse needs and expectations of the surrounding community. Crucial next steps include the selection of a general contractor and site location for the Performing Arts Center. The projected schedule will be developed collaboratively to ensure all project phases are carefully planned and allow for a seamless construction process. By aligning on key milestones and timelines, the project team will remain focused on delivering a state-of-the-art facility that enriches the wider community while meeting the high standards set by the college. If you would like more information or to support this project, please contact Debra Windley at debrawindley@bac.edu or 704-461-6691.
Press Inquiry Contact:
Sarah Bolton, 海角社在线e, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.
Lillian Parker, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, lillian.parker@littleonline.com or 704-676-3312.
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Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
Can you believe that less than two weeks of regular classes remain in the Fall semester!? Our outstanding faculty, students, and staff continue to flourish, as demonstrated by their wonderful accomplishments.
God Bless,
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