JBU Receives Grant from The Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust of Texas, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

John Brown University was awarded a $25,000 grant from The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust of Texas, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee toward the university’s $6 million renovation of Mayfield Residence Hall, the university’s historic women’s dormitory that has housed more than 10,000 women since its opening in 1964.

“We are very thankful for this grant that helps provide over 250 JBU women a ‘home away from home’ as they grow as adults and pursue their educational goals,” Dr. April Moreton, senior director of development, said. “This gift will upgrade Mayfield to a more modern and safe environment where students can develop intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.”

Mayfield’s renovation will include new bathrooms and plumbing, new décor for all of the common areas, a new HVAC system and a modern fire suppression system. In addition, each resident room will have a sink, sound-resistant walls, high-efficiency LED lighting, and new, modular furniture for residents to maximize and personalize their living spaces. The renovation began spring 2017 and will be completed by summer 2018.

“Mayfield is a place where young women make great memories, find a community of love and support, and create lifelong friendships,” Lauren Lane, Mayfield residence director, said. “This project ensures that Mayfield will continue to serve students for generations to come.”

The Mayfield Renovation Project is the newest initiative of JBU’s $125 Million Campaign for the Next Century. JBU has currently raised more than $110 million toward the $125 million goal and plans to complete the campaign on JBU’s centennial in 2019.

The Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust was established in 1981 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for all people. In 1933, Roy Sturgis married Texas native Christine Johns. They became very successful in the timber, lumber and sawmill industries in Arkansas, owned other prosperous business enterprises and had notable success managing their investments. Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis spent most of their lives in Arkansas and Dallas, Texas. They did not have children, but were particularly interested in educational opportunities for young people. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Sturgis support organizations working in the areas of health, social services and the arts.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2017), JBU enrolls more than 2,700 students from 40 states and 37 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 39 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.