Grace College’s Campaign Puts Student Pathways at the Center

For students and families, a college campaign can sound like news about buildings and budgets. Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary’s newly announced “Created for More” campaign matters because the institution says its plans connect campus investment with learning experiences, career exploration and regional partnerships—including a proposed pathway for young learners interested in STEM and orthopedic technology. The announcement gives particular attention to the planned reuse of Zimmer Biomet’s current global headquarters building in Warsaw, Indiana, as a future hub for research, teaching and industry collaboration.

A campaign framed around student opportunity

According to Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary, the “Created for More” campaign officially launched at an event on October 1, 2026. The institutions say the campaign seeks to raise $135 million for their strategic plan and represents the largest fundraising effort in Grace’s 89-year history.

Grace says the campaign is organized around three pillars: Created for Community, Created for Knowledge and Created for Impact. The organization reports that visible projects include renovations to the Gordon Health and Wellness Center, the new Shook Welcome Center and a Community Fieldhouse under construction at the Miller Athletic Complex.

The campaign’s scale is notable, but its stated educational purpose is the more relevant point for learners. Grace President Dr. Drew Flamm characterized the effort as an investment in student impact, academic opportunities and the communities students may serve after graduation, according to the announcement. Campaign Cabinet Chair Dr. Eugene Inman, a 1978 Grace graduate, said the initiative is intended to advance the institution’s mission of preparing future leaders through Christian education.

Grace reports that it has raised $95.8 million toward the campaign to date. That total includes a $27 million Catalyst Corridor grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through its College and Community Collaboration initiative for Indiana higher education institutions, according to the organization.

Zimmer Biomet building plans spotlight orthopedic and medtech learning

The most distinctive component of the announcement is Grace’s plan for the Zimmer Biomet building at 345 E. Main Street in Warsaw. Grace says Zimmer Biomet announced last month that it would donate its current global headquarters building to the college. According to Grace, the building is planned to become the Orthopedic Innovation Research Center, or OIRC.

Grace says the proposed center would bring together students, orthopedic and medical-technology companies, and industry professionals. Its stated goals include supporting research projects, real-world problem solving and talent development from K-12 through higher education. The college also says companies would be able to lease space in the building, creating opportunities for students to interact with professionals in the field.

For high school students considering engineering, computer science, manufacturing or health-related technology, the announcement illustrates why local industry partnerships can be valuable. Classroom learning becomes more concrete when students can see how design, coding, data, manufacturing and clinical needs intersect in a real workplace. Families can use news like this as a prompt for useful questions: What courses build a foundation for these fields? Are there local career and technical education pathways? Which internships, dual-credit options or job-shadowing opportunities are available?

Grace says the OIRC would provide space for upper-level engineering and computer science coursework, labs and capstone projects, and could support new STEM programs. Dr. Emi Krelau, executive director of Grace’s Catalyst Corridor Initiative, said in the announcement that the model is intended to strengthen academic-industry collaboration and help Warsaw remain connected to the orthopedic and medtech sectors.

A regional pathway that begins before college

According to Grace, the proposed OIRC is designed to extend beyond enrolled college students. The organization says plans include a discovery center for elementary students, engagement opportunities for Warsaw-area high school students pursuing manufacturing pathways, and potential connections with Ivy Tech students. Grace also says the center would offer space for presentations, seminars and networking among students, companies and other participants.

This K-12-to-college perspective deserves credit. A student does not need to have a fully formed career plan in elementary or middle school to benefit from encountering practical STEM ideas. Exposure can help young people connect subjects such as math and science with possible future roles, while hands-on projects can reveal interests that a textbook alone may not uncover. Teachers can similarly use local innovation stories to make lessons more relevant, whether by discussing how prototypes are tested, how computers support medical devices or why collaborative communication matters in technical work.

Support between these moments of exposure is important, too. Students who want extra help reviewing foundational concepts can use COSMIQ’s free voice-driven AI tutoring, which is free forever for every K-12 student, to talk through questions in subjects such as math and science at their own pace. It is not a substitute for a classroom, lab or mentor, but it can help learners prepare more confidently for the opportunities their schools and communities make available.

Business education and community connection also feature

Grace also announced plans for the W. Eddie Creighton Business Innovation Complex, which the college says will be located in the historic Free Methodist church across from Westminster Hall. According to Grace, the complex will house the School of Business and the Gordon Center for Enterprise Development, with study rooms and dedicated spaces for orthopedic MBA students and K-12 programming.

The organization says the project honors William Edward “Eddie” Creighton through a gift from Ron and Mindy Truex. Grace President Flamm said the naming recognizes the Creighton and Truex families’ legacy of servant leadership and community commitment, according to the announcement.

Grace describes itself as an accredited, Christ-centered higher education institution in Winona Lake, Indiana, affiliated with the Charis Fellowship. The college says it was founded in 1948 and offers more than 100 majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs through on-campus and online formats.

Why the announcement is worth watching

Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary deserve recognition for presenting a campaign that, according to their announcement, links facilities with learning, community relationships and long-term student development. Fundraising announcements are ultimately about intentions until projects are completed, but the proposed OIRC and business complex offer a clear picture of how a college can seek to connect education with regional needs.

For students, parents and educators in the Warsaw area, the practical takeaway is to watch for future details on programs, partnerships and youth-learning opportunities. Grace’s “Created for More” campaign points toward an encouraging idea: ambitious educational pathways are strongest when students can see where early curiosity, steady skill-building and community collaboration might lead.