National attention
- In 2005, the Odyssey program was spotlighted by Time magazine, on the Today show, and in other major national media.
- In 2006 and 2007, President Tim Cloyd was sought out for comments by The New York Times for three front-page stories on current trends in higher education.
A first-choice school for more top students
- Since Odyssey began, we have set new records for applications and for entering students. Enrolling freshmen and transfers are up by an average of 40% compared to the fall of 2004.
- In 2004, 39% of new students hailed from states other than Arkansas. Now, 52% of new students are from out of state.
Thousands of Odysseys
- Since a $3 million gift from the Murphy Foundation launched this bold initiative, our students have completed 1,747 Odyssey projects, on campus, throughout the United States, and on six continents.
- During the same period, we awarded grants approaching a million dollars to support student and faculty Odysseys that merited special funding.
Increased endowment for scholarships
- A challenge grant from The Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust enabled us to establish a $11.1 million endowment for scholarships for students from middle-income families.
- Hendrix students possess innate gifts, talents, and heartfelt passions that are evident in their impressive high school records of co-curricular accomplishments. Our Odyssey Honors and Distinction Awards enable us to recognize and reward these noteworthy achievements that demonstrate a commitment to learning that extends beyond the classroom.
New wellness and athletic facilities and programs
- All students benefit from new playing fields, an eight-lane track and other new outdoor facilities that complement the WAC.
- With the addition of lacrosse and field hockey in 2007, Hendrix now fields 19 NCAA Division III men's and women's teams. More than one third of our students participate in intercollegiate athletics while at Hendrix and almost two-thirds participate in intramurals.
Other campaign initiatives
- Constructed a new three-building art complex including separate facilities for art history and photography; painting, drawing, and other two-dimensional art; and ceramics, sculpture, and other three-dimensional art.
- Created the Hendrix-Lilly Vocations Initiative, with the support of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., to enhance the College's ability to offer students thoughtful curricular and co-curricular opportunities and a supportive environment in which they can consider their life's calling.
- Secured the $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant and matching gifts totaling more than $1.5 million for the Collegiate Center to develop and support a common course for all first-year students, faculty development workshops, and a visiting lecture series, and increase library resources for the course.
