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SCPS officially opened our newest, largest facility on Thursday, November 29th with grand opening festivities
that included a ribbon-cutting, reception, dedication service, and open house.
Congressman Jack Kingston joined Dick and Judy Eckburg - along with Headmaster Roger Yancey,
SCPS Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Daniel and a host of dignitaries - in cutting the ribbon and officially
dedicating the new multi-million dollar Richard and Judy Eckburg Fine Arts and Athletic Center.
Mrs. Nancy N. Lewis, her grandson Nelson Lewis ’02, and other Lewis family members were also on hand
to celebrate the naming of the J.C. and Nancy N. Lewis Fine Arts Hall. The bronze plaque hanging over the hall
entrance commemorates the leadership support from the Lewis family.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Eckburg (Dick and Judy) cut the ribbon flanked by Mr. Bill Daniel,
Chairman of the SCPS Board of Trustees; Mr. Roger Yancey, Headmaster; Congressman Jack Kingston; Chatham County Commission
Chair Pete Liakakis; County Commissioner Pat Farrell; Garden City Administrator Brian Johnson;
Sam McCachern, of Thomas and Hutton and the SPCS Board of Trustees Chairman of the facilities committee;
Don Cogdell, Architect from Cogdell Mendrala; Walter Murphy of Reeves Worrell contractors; and select students
representing grades PK-12. Other dignitaries included Kay Ford and Raymond Padgett, officers of SunTrust bank;
John Patterson, CEO of JCB, Inc.; Bill Cathcart, General Manager of WTOC; and David Lyons, Garden City Chief of Police.
Local philanthropists Mrs. Alice Jepson and Mr. John Kane, both close friends of the Eckburgs and SCPS supporters,
also joined in on this special day.
Nearly 200 invited guests joined the Eckburgs in the lobby where Mr. Yancey remarked on the story
of giving, first from the late Mr. J. C. Lewis, and then from Dick and Judy Eckburg. The unveiling of an oil portrait of
the Eckburgs by local artist Sandra T. Colquitt completely surprised the Eckburgs.
The Eckburgs both expressed their gratitude for the gesture of Thanksgiving.
Mr. Eckburg said, “Listen closely because you will never hear this again, I am speechless!”
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After a short reception, guests were invited into the arena to join more than 1,500
Savannah Christian students, faculty and staff for a formal dedication service. Following a series of worship songs,
the program began with a pledge to the American flag, the singing of the national anthem led by the Middle School chorus,
pledges to Christian flag and the Bible, reciting of a memory verse and the singing of Pslam 126:3 by all of the Lower
School students.
After a welcome by Mr. Yancey, several SCPS ballet students performed a ballet to the song "Believe."
A special SCPS community choir that included more than three dozen alumni, faculty, family members, students and
friends of the school performed two selections, "At the Cross" and "For the Beauty of the Earth" (which included a
slide show of the Eckburg Center construction progress since the
Groundbreaking). During a dedication prayer led by Mr. Yancey,
students representing various school activities - art, athletics, drama, and music - knelt in front of the
stage with items representing their area in humble dedication to the glory of God.
The program also included two videos - "The Miracle" and "Mission Possible" - that provided the audience with
an opportunity to hear the school's history, mission, and vision, including renderings of the new upper school facility.
The Savannah College of Art & Design gave Savannah Christian a painting to hang in the Lewis Fine Arts Hall.
This gift from the college was their way of honoring the Eckburgs, who also have been generous benefactors of SCAD.
Following the dedication service, guests were invited to tour the Eckburg Center.
The 56,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Eckburg Center houses an arena seating
over 1,600, with an additional 500 seats available when converted to a theatrical auditorium.
The addition of the athletic training rooms, coaching offices, work-out facilities and an aerobic dance studio
are certainly tremendous additions to the winning Raider athletic department. Moreover, three art studios,
a choral room, a band and instrument room, as well as pottery wheels, a kiln and a darkroom, will allow our
fine arts department to continue to grow and thrive.
For more information, visit:
- Photo book - view or purchase online
- Campus Redevelopment Plans - includes images and layouts
- Legacy Capital Campaign Overview - printable plans and details
- The Miracle - This seven-minute video
provides an exciting glimpse into the history and vision of Savannah Christian Preparatory School.
It includes a recounting by one of the school's founders of the miracle which helped launch the school,
as well as a synchronized game film and radio broadcast football flashback to the famous "Red Alert"
drive of 80 yards in the final 34 seconds of the 1981 state championship football game.
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