Western Baptist College received a $1 million gift in July by a donor desiring to name a residence hall.

During its three-year capital campaign, the College has raised nearly $7 million to be used for construction of both the new women's residence hall and the Psalm Fine Arts Center.   The residence hall, which will be ready for occupancy when students begin arriving August 28, will be named for the benefactor.

Western Baptist President, Dr. Reno Hoff said Mr. Alton Davidson of Danville, Calif., chose to remember his late wife with the generous gift to the college.

"Mr. Davidson said he was inspired by the college's vision and wanted to make the donation to honor his wife who died a few years ago. He inquired to see if we had something we could name after her," Hoff said.

The college plans to honor Mr. Davidson during a dedication ceremony later this fall when the residence hall will be named the Alton Lyndon and Joan Velde Davidson Hall.  The new 18,000 square-foot, two-story residence hall will house 72 female students. It is located above and behind the Academic Center, below the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

Work on the $3 million fine arts center began June 2 and the complex has already begun transforming the look of the lower portion of the college campus. When completed in 2005, it will feature a 700 seat venue for chapel services, music events and theater productions. The building's exterior will feature natural stone accents and will overlook the campus facing toward the city of Salem.

Fundraising continues for the clock tower/main plaza area which will transform the heart of the campus, plus other renovation and the upgrading of existing facilities.