I'm often asked what is it that makes sford so special and increasingly the answer that comes to mind is in a word balance how can a university be described as both small and at the same time large enough to facilitate the entire range of the college experience how can it compete at the highest levels on the field but also in the classroom and how can a student be rooted in the life and work of Jesus and intellectually engaged in an increasingly complex world we like to say that Sanford University stands at the intersection of Christian faith and learning but what does that mean it's that word balance in a world that wants us to believe that intellect and Faith are in compatible we believe that students should be invited to explore their curiosity about the world while also deepening their convictions for it so the true sford experience is a paradox and what it requires to thrive is a campus built to facilitate and expand relationships this is why we're looking and working towards a future that doesn't simply maintain or protect what makes sanord so special but Builds on it as well as all the other projects on campus including this our 2024 Rec Center what's next for us as we grow in talking about Horizons and particular how do we implement this balancing the needs of our current students faculty and staff while trying to build the next great spaces for Sanford the last couple of years getting to this point has been taken care of what we have and now it's time to build what's next let's go when you walk into that new Rec Center you're going to see all the way through like you'll be able to see a friend from 100 yards away you're going to go and work out great but what else can I do there from dance studios to flexible workout spaces spin rooms cycling rooms yoga rooms a place to go to recharge to get healthy that's the connectivity we want and if students are using those spaces that we've just designed and are now constructing they're going to run each other all the time the C's the same way again you walk in there's not a door there like you don't have to get food you can just go and and sit with your friends these are intentional spaces built for them built for the purpose of taking care of them and their whole self we are here for the students everything we do every decision we make every challenge we undertake is for the students Sanford has been such a special place I think the construction projects are awesome I just think it's going to be really cool to see students getting to experience it even when I'm gone I'm just excited that they get to experience the family that Sanford brings you and hopefully in a bigger and better way with everything that's going on campus Rec Center is just going to be awesome I can't wait for that to be done dude I'm definitely going to use that gym when I saw the video of it with the little red guys running around in the circle going to be S that's going to be me the Sanford Horizons campaign is is not only a giant leap towards advancing the sford experience it also maintains the careful balance that makes Samford so special to begin with I could not be more excited for our students our faculty and for all future Sanford Bulldogs to experience what God has in store over this next [Music] Horizon