Posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2025
The Office of Institutional Advancement is excited to share significant fundraising progress for the fourth phase of renovations in Hoyt Science Center. Westminster College broke ground in 2017 for the multimillion dollar four-phase renovation and expansion project of Hoyt. With generous support, three phases have been funded and achieved, and one final phase (4 Hoyt) is left to complete in our strategic renovation plan of the facility housing STEM classes, labs, and faculty offices. Alumni donors Will ’53 and Carol Jean Young ’62 Maurer offered a generous $1 million lead challenge gift to encourage additional contributions from the alumni community to help us complete this phase of updates 4 Hoyt. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the alumni community, the College is more than halfway to meeting the match for this transformative project.
We asked Hoyt Science Center faculty and students about the impact of the new updated spaces:
“The collaboration space offered in the new Clarence and Mary Ann Harms Center for the Environment is designed for students to discover the power of connection in driving meaningful change. This space is inspiring, inclusive, inviting and flexible. The adaptable work zones can be used for classes, student study areas, creative brainstorming, workshops and has so much potential for students to uncover.” - Dr. Kerri Duerr, director and associate professor, Harms Center for the Environment.
“I love the new feeling you get in Hoyt and how approachable your professors are. They genuinely care about our success and always make time for us. The space around their offices is great for collaboration, too, so we can gain valuable learning experiences from faculty and also our peers.” - Jordan Deems ’27, environmental science major.
“The cutting-edge learning, research, and collaboration spaces in the biology department distinguish our students from those at other institutions. We are dedicated to creating an environment where students feel welcomed, supported, and proud of their work and their place in our program. Additionally, our goal is to foster a space that not only attracts prospective students but also resonates with our alumni." - Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor and chair of biology.
“I met many of my friends during my first semester on campus by spending time in Hoyt. You can call it 'Hoyt-forged friendships.' There are so many great, new spaces to study and hang out with friends.” - Emily Yurko ’28, biochemistry major.
View the updated fundraising progress 4 Hoyt here.