Fork Union plans new dorm as its enrollment increases

Some private boarding schools may be worried about dwindling enrollments and putting off new construction, but not Fork Union Military Academy.

This Fluvanna County college preparatory boarding school is enjoying increased enrollment and making plans to construct a three-story dorm with 250 two-man rooms contained in five wings -- one for each company of the Upper School Corps of Cadets. There is also a Middle School with a dorm, a school spokesman said.

The groundbreaking for the new dorm is expected to occur this year.

Founded in 1898 and affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, Fork Union is a preparatory boarding school for boys and young men in grades six through 12 and postgraduates.

Enrollment stands at about 500 students, the highest enrollment in about seven years, said Steve Macek, the school's director of admissions.

The school also brought in 246 new students, 63 more than the 183 new students the school brought in the year before. Enrollment at the middle school is the highest since 2001, Macek said.

The school's president, Lt. Gen. John E. Jackson Jr., attributes the school's success to divine intervention, declaring, "This is the Lord's school, and he is in the life-changing business here."

At about 100,000 square feet, the new dorm -- to be named Jacobson Hall in honor of donors Jerry and Laura Jacobson of Sugarcreek, Ohio -- will be almost double the size of the current Snead Hall and Memorial Hall combined. Once the new barracks is completed, Snead and Memorial, built in 1923 and 1941 respectively, will be removed.

Planning for the new dorm began several years ago, when engineers determined that additional renovations could not be done to the existing barracks.

In September, the military academy made its initial fundraising appeal to the school's alumni and supporters. At the time, school officials were looking to start construction in 2010 or 2011, depending on how fundraising efforts proceeded, school spokesman Dan Thompson said.

But by December, the project seemed to hang in limbo, Thompson said. Almost $2 million had been raised for the project, and school leaders were unsure whether to press forward or pull back. The depressed construction industry meant that contractors were eager for work, but the recession meant that contributions would be slow in arriving.

It was then that the Jacobsons, whose two sons attend the school, provided the largest single cash contribution to the academy in its history -- $10.1 million.

"It was just a heartfelt thing I wanted to do to help the future generations of young men in the country," said Jerry Jacobson, a retired railroad man. "It was hopefully a building block to help keep Fork Union up and going for many years in the future."

School officials estimate another $2.5 million will be needed for site preparation, barracks furnishings and other ancillary costs, bringing the total amount remaining to be raised to approximately $10.5 million. School officials are making it known they are still seeking donations.

The school finished a capital campaign in July 2007 and raised about $33 million. Some of the pledges are not scheduled to be paid fully until 2017, but academy officials say that if some of the donors are willing to accelerate their payment schedule, the money could go toward the dorm project.

"Our school is an anachronism in many ways," Jackson said. "We're all boys, military, Christian, located in rural Virginia. Yet for as long as we've remained committed to our mission, we have continued to grow and meet the needs of generations of young men for over 110 years."

"Some of these young men may win trophies for high jumps and hurdles and other feats of skill, but I'm most proud when we can demonstrate to them the blessing and success that comes from taking the leap of faith."

Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or .