News
SC to Dedicate George and Inez Hayward Gateway to Success
Southwestern College President Brad Andrews invites the public to attend a special dedication of the George and Inez Hayward Gateway to Success on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 12:30 p.m., at the opening of Kirk Drive on campus.
The gateway was made possible by the generosity of Jack and Helene Hayward.
In June 2016, Andrews received a letter from Jack Hayward, a Kansas native who lives in Canyon, Texas. He introduced himself as the son of G. L. Hayward.
“My father passed away in September 1965, in Elkhart, Kansas,” the letter read. “At the time of his death he was in communication with your college about financing some project.”
Even though Jack Hayward did not know what project his father was working on with then-President Orville Strohl, he was determined to carry out his father’s wishes for a campus improvement. The result is the George and Inez Hayward Gateway to Success which welcomes visitors to the west entrance of campus. The two gateways and a larger institutional sign are found at the opening of Kirk Drive and large signs that indicate boundaries of the Southwestern College campus are in place at the Warren Avenue and Fowler Avenue corners of College Street.
Constructed of limestone that matches existing college buildings, the five lighted signs have flower beds built around their bases.
“We are so pleased to invite the community to share with us in the dedication of the Hayward Gateway to Success. The gates are a beautiful addition to our campus and the Winfield community.” said DeAnn Dockery, vice president for institutional advancement. “This is a time to celebrate and thank a wonderful and generous couple. They have given a gift that will stand for generations of Builders.”
“A strong commitment to philanthropy makes such a difference in this world,” Andrews said. “Jack and Helene Hayward embody the reality that our college, our future, is made better by families and individuals who understand the ways in which philanthropic gifts can create impact for generations to come.”
