GOLDSBORO, NC— With music, memories, and meaningful announcements, the University of Mount Olive marked its 75th anniversary during a gala held Thursday, February 26, at The Maxwell Center in Goldsboro.
More than a milestone celebration, the evening served as a powerful testament to the University’s enduring mission of faith, learning, leadership, and service. The event culminated with the announcement that $23,740,000 has been raised to date in support of the University’s comprehensive UMO GROWS! Campaign.
Guests gathered during a social hour featuring the Moonlight Swing Band before Campus Pastor Matt Sharp opened the formal program with prayer and recognition of the many volunteers, partners, and campus teams who made the evening possible. “Our thanks are to God and to the generations who have walked through these doors over the past 75 years,” Sharp prayed. “May He continue to bless this University as we keep Him at the center of our lives.”
Serving as student speakers for the evening, twins Brittany and Victoria Badgett represented the voice of the current student body. “We know firsthand the incredible impact UMO has on the lives of our students,” they shared. “It is not only a place of education, but of exploration and connection.”
North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt delivered keynote remarks, sharing her family’s longstanding connection to the University. Her grandfather, James B. Hunt, Sr., served 25 years on the Mount Olive Board of Trustees, including 13 as chair. “Mount Olive didn’t grow because of one person,” Hunt said. “It grew because generations decided this institution was worth building. Worth protecting. Worth believing in.”
Lieutenant Governor Hunt encouraged attendees to view the anniversary not only as a moment of reflection but as a call to action. “Anniversaries are moments to look back,” she said, “but they’re also reminders that the next 75 years begin tomorrow.”
Remarks were also offered by Donnie Lassiter, Chair of the UMO Board of Trustees, and Ray McDonald, Jr., Chair of the UMO Foundation Board, who recognized distinguished guests including elected officials, foundation leaders, trustees, and longtime supporters.
Congressman Greg Murphy provided greetings and congratulated the University on its sustained impact across eastern North Carolina.
Throughout the evening, the University recognized Student Impact Partners, Campus Impact Partners, Legacy Impact Partners, and Strategic Impact Partners whose generosity continues to transform lives. Among the announcements:
Among the highlights was the announcement of the James E. and Mary Z. Bryan Foundation Fellows Opportunities Fund Scholarship Program, a five-year commitment that will expand scholarship support. The University also introduced the Anonymous Student International Travel Program, designed to give students access to life-changing global learning experiences through both immediate and endowed funding.
The Mount Olive Pickle Foundation was recognized for a significant multi-year commitment in support of the UMO GROWS! Campaign. The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission was acknowledged for its $1 million grant supporting construction of a new Educational Livestock Facility that will expand hands-on agricultural education. Legislative leaders were thanked for their continued support of the University’s mission and programs.
A special video message from Dr. Nido Qubein announced a $1 million gift from Nido and Mariana Qubein to establish the future Qubein Plaza and Amphitheater, a new gathering space expected to be completed by fall 2026.
In one of the evening’s most historic announcements, President H. Edward Croom revealed the naming of the House of Raeford Farms, Inc. School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, recognizing the extraordinary generosity and leadership of Bob Johnson, President and CEO of House of Raeford Farms, and his family.
“With this historic naming and significant gift,” Croom said, “the School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences is positioned to become even more prominent among university agricultural programs, expanding opportunities for students and advancing the future of agriculture in our region and beyond.”
First Lady Phyllis Croom reflected on the University’s family spirit and shared a glimpse of the next generation of Trojans, reminding guests that UMO’s legacy is both deeply personal and forward-looking.
President Croom concluded the evening with an invitation. “As we look to the future, I invite everyone who believes in the promise of this great University to stand with us,” he said. “If you are ready to say yes to the next 75 years, stand with us now.”
As Carolina Sound filled the room with a powerful reprise of “It’s a Yes,” guests rose to their feet in a moving moment of unity and commitment. The evening concluded with the presentation of UMO GROWS! Campaign publications to attendees and heartfelt gratitude to the community of trustees, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, and friends who have sustained the University for 75 years.
“As we celebrate 75 years, we do so with deep gratitude for those who had the faith to begin this work in 1951 and for those who continue it today,” said Dr. Croom. “The University of Mount Olive has always been about more than buildings or programs. It is about people whose lives are shaped by faith, learning, and a call to serve. With God’s guidance and the support of this community, we will continue preparing students to lead with character and conviction for generations to come.”
