Cornerstone University - KUMI ORI Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

Page 12 text:

Dr. Hakes. Besides a new decade, many other firsts developed the next year. Dr. Quentin Kenoyer, presently a missionary in India, started the first school clinic. Student Council was also in its embryonic slage, and plans for four-year ancf five-year courses were just beginning. Dr. Hakes was called to ihe presidency in the f 953-1954 year, and during his term in office, he saw two major changes in curricula and a new site for the campus purchased. However, nothing more was accomplished in expansion, while the Seminary and Institute continued to improve. 8

Page 11 text:

The staff of the 1949 Kumi On, advised by Dr William Pardee. Born as an evening school, the first enrollment was about two hundred students, far exceeding the expectations of the founders. Dr. David O. Fuller was President of the Executive Council during the Institute's formative years, and among the beginning faculty were Dr. William Pardee and Dr. Sheldon Quincer, who have remained in the school to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniver- sary. Eleven men and women participated in the first graduation, held on a cold evening in De- cember, 1943. The blessing of God led the Executive Board to add a day course in the fall of 1944, and the The first school basketball team played in 1948. Dr. Gerard Knol, the second official president after acting President Jackson. school was incorporated as the Baptist Bible Insti- tute and School of Theology under the presidency of Rev. Norman Douty. After two more years of growth, a need for housing arose and Van Osdel Hall became a part of the school, joined the fol- lowing year by Spurgeon Hall. The academic phase of the Institute was not forgotten, for in 1949, the first seminary graduates, including Mr. Victor Matthews, received their Bachelor of Divin- ity Degrees. Now, another name was required to adequately fit the school and the Baptist Theo- logical Seminary and Bible Institute became the title. The Voices of Victory

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■ il'STtM COM Dr. Welch lifts the first shovelful of earth at the ground- breaking ceremonies. The fall semester of 1959 welcomed a new president in the person of Dr. W. Wilbert Welch. The program for a new campus was again taken up, and two years later ground- breaking ceremonies formed the initial step forward. The academic standing leaped ahead as well, until in 1964, the recently formed Bible College division was given full member- ship in the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges. The great move was effected the same year and the 1964 freshmen were greeted by a sparkling new campus which was not even completed. The blessing of being away from the city, and the enjoyment of a spacious, beautiful campus overcame any inconveni- ences, and an increase in the number of appli- Dr. Faber, Dr. Wood and Dr. Welch s!and beside the newly placed corner, stone. cations quickly sent the Executive Board run- ning to the architect for more blueprints. Yet, it is merely the beginning- the primary, though definite, steps which will lead in the future to a finer school that maintains Academic Ex- cellence plus Spiritual Commitment. The empty library building makes a good place tor a ladies' guild meeting. 9