Hardesty Leaves Lasting Legacy at Ancilla College

Jim Hardesty’s nephew, Chuck Hardesty, niece, Joan Hardesty, and SCCF Director of Development, Sarah Origer, stand with an artistic rendering of the sign for Hardesty Hall, which will soon grace the dorm’s entrance.
Jim Hardesty’s nephew, Chuck Hardesty, niece, Joan Hardesty, and SCCF Director of Development, Sarah Origer, stand with an artistic rendering of the sign for Hardesty Hall, which will soon grace the dorm’s entrance.

A longtime supporter of Ancilla College will continue to offer posthumous support to the two-year private school. Starke County Philanthropist Jim Hardesty was an Ancilla College trustee and also founded the Starke County Community Foundation.

The SCCF established the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund in 2005 to support local charitable endeavors. Foundation officials recently announced a grant of $25,000 from it to support the new on-campus housing facility at Ancilla. They also intend to provide an additional $20,000 per year for the next four years, for a total of $105,000 to Ancilla.

The Ancilla College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the first residence hall Hardesty Hall. It opened a year ago. A second dormitory was recently dedicated.

Hardesty’s family believes he would have been pleased to support the building project. They note he saw potential in Ancilla’s plans to expand the campus.