The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has received a $2 million challenge grant from an anonymous donor to support construction of its new $50 million science laboratory facility in Belton, Texas.
To receive the full grant, UMHB must raise an additional $2 million by May 31, 2027. The university recently completed an earlier challenge grant for the same project, and successfully meeting the latest fundraising target would allow UMHB to open the new facility without debt.
Construction is underway at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and College Street, directly across from the university’s Davidson and Heard buildings. UMHB expects the facility to be completed in time for students to begin using it for classes in fall 2028.
The three-story building will include 13 science laboratories along with conference rooms and dedicated student gathering and study areas. The spaces are being designed to support hands-on learning, classroom instruction, and research across multiple science-related disciplines.
The new facility will serve students enrolled in biology and health science programs and will also accommodate students completing UMHB’s general education laboratory science requirement. Because that requirement applies broadly across undergraduate programs, the university expects the building to serve a majority of its undergraduate student population.
The latest challenge grant is structured to encourage additional philanthropy by effectively matching new donations toward the project. University officials said the funding builds on momentum generated by donors already supporting construction of the science facility.
UMHB is continuing fundraising efforts as construction progresses, with the latest $2 million challenge establishing a May 31, 2027, deadline for securing the matching contributions.
The project represents a significant investment in UMHB’s science and health education infrastructure and is intended to provide modern laboratory environments for teaching, research, and collaborative student work.
KEY QUOTES:
“The timing of this anonymous gift is such a blessing, especially after just meeting our initial challenge grant for this building. Meeting this new challenge will ensure that we open this $50 million facility debt-free, a tremendous accomplishment made possible by the generosity of donors who believe in UMHB’s mission and vision and are investing in the future of our students. We are overwhelmed and humbled by what God is doing on the UMHB campus, and we give Him all the glory.”
Dr. Randy O’Rear, President Of The University Of Mary Hardin-Baylor
“Our donors have shown tremendous support for this project, and we are grateful for the opportunity to build on that momentum with a second challenge grant. This generous gift gives us another opportunity to double the impact of every dollar raised. We are excited about the progress we have made and look forward to working with our donors to meet this new challenge.”
Tucker Glaske, Vice President For Advancement At The University Of Mary Hardin-Baylor
