ON CAMPUS AT VANGUARD:Architect Rush Hill shares his master plan

Rush Hill, chairman of the board of the architectural firm Hill Partnership Inc. and former Newport Beach Citizen of the Year, has become an active supporter of Vanguard University and its Vision 2010 campaign. Vision 2010 seeks to construct five new buildings on campus, strengthen academic programs and grow the endowment. Hill serves as a board director of the Vanguard University Foundation and vice chair of the development committee.

Hill Partnership has been dedicated to commercial and public architecture since 1975, and has worked on many university campuses, including UC Irvine, Orange Coast College, Cal State Long Beach and UC Riverside. Journalist Joel Kilpatrick spoke with Hill about his support of Vanguard University.

Q: When did you first hear about Vanguard University?

A: I’m a second-generation Orange Countian and have been driving by the campus since I was old enough to drive. But I never really knew what was there until about four years ago. At a luncheon for the kickoff of the Anaheim Ducks’ hockey season, I sat at a table shared by Vanguard President Murray Dempster and others from Vanguard. Following the event, we chatted for a while about Vanguard’s desire to start a philanthropic foundation. I’ve sat on several foundations, especially in the area of education, so I later came to the campus to meet with Murray, and as a result of that I now chair the Vanguard Foundation fundraising committee.

Q: Why did you become a Vanguard supporter and partner?

A: From the beginning I was very impressed with the individuals I met. I’ve been involved in education since the 1970s, when I served in then-Gov. Ronald Reagan’s administration as a special assistant in education, but I really had never met so many good people all at one place as I did at Vanguard. They were all so dedicated and focused on making Vanguard a quality-focused institution. It was very impressive. I felt compelled to do what I could do to help them create the foundation and to spread the word about Vanguard.

Q: Why is an education like the one offered at Vanguard important to business leaders like you?

A: Vanguard is offering its graduates not only knowledge but passion to make a difference. That’s healthy for any business or community. Vanguard provides graduates with skill sets that are important to various types of business needs. But it also gives them a passion not just to show up and earn a paycheck but to advance that industry. That makes a huge difference. For example, right now there is a shortage in the nation for nursing. Vanguard is rallying to meet that need and is beginning a nursing program to produce graduates who will meet a significant need in the Orange County area. You can see how that benefit will multiply and improve the healthcare of the region. Vanguard’s graduates will become leaders.

Q: As the master-plan architect for Vanguard University you are also helping to reshape the campus for the future. What does that involve?

A: It’s a unique situation, with limited space on campus yet a need to accommodate growth. We had to determine how to achieve a quality educational environment while addressing the philosophies and beliefs and passions of Vanguard University, which is so much more people-focused than other institutions. How do you capture that in the facilities? And how do you do it within a limited geographic area? The challenge of putting together a team to create that master plan was a great opportunity. We also have the opportunity to assist in implementing the plan as both a coordinator of architects and a participating architect in the creation of some of the buildings.

Q: How do you see the campus changing in the coming years as a result of Vision 2010, Vanguard’s roadmap to upgrading its campus and boosting the university endowment?

A: The long-term evolution of the campus will be dramatic. The intent of the master plan is to bring the physical facility up to the quality level of the education and staff. We’ll have a new performing music hall, a new gymnasium and event center that can hold the entire student body. We’ll add one more residence facility to maintain the important goal of housing 70% of undergraduates on campus. There will be a new student union building, which will become the “living room” of the campus, a new state-of-the-art science building, a new library and a new classroom building.

The long-term goal is to have the master plan implemented by the centennial celebration, which will be in 2020. Vision 2010 is the first major thrust in that direction.

Q: How can people get involved in supporting Vanguard University?

A: Learn firsthand what’s going on in the quality of the programs. Of all the campuses I’m aware of, I don’t know one that is as welcoming as Vanguard. Its senior leaders are receptive to entertaining visitors and sharing what they do. Dr. Dempster is probably the most approachable president of a university I’ve ever met in my life. The individuals who work with him all have a tremendous degree of quality, friendliness and willingness to share their passion. When you see events noted in the paper, like Christmas Fantasia, that are being held by Vanguard, come to any one of them to be exposed to the quality of the university.

Vanguard is a high-quality institution. Once the local population becomes more aware of its existence and what it is doing in the development of individuals in both knowledge and lifestyle, the more people will want to get involved and help them continue to pursue excellence.