We are saddened to share news of the death of longtime King advocate and Board of Trustees Member Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr., who unreservedly supported King and its Christian mission for more than 30 years, faithfully shepherding the University through perilous times and challenges. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, Hugh was the third-generation leader of The Maclellan Foundation, Inc., where he took on the role of President in 1987 and served for nearly 30 years in various executive positions. He selflessly served King as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1979 to 2001, and as a trustee for a decade afterward. The support he provided to King in the late 1970s, both personally and through his family’s foundations, proved critical to preserving the University’s very existence. Guidance and gifts made in the following decades not only kept King operational, but fostered growth. In the late 1990s he and his family launched the Building Meaningful Lives campaign with a $12 million challenge gift, and his leadership contributed to more than $50 million raised to strengthen King’s endowment and help it flourish. “Hugh saw King as ‘a light on the hill’ and was a faithful representative of God’s tremendous generosity,” said W. Andrew Tooley, Ph.D., President of King. “In his work to further the Christ-centered focus of his family’s foundations, he played a pivotal role in preserving and shaping our Christian academic community. His legacy includes many thousands of lives uplifted through King, and we are deeply grateful for his wisdom, largesse, and advocacy.” A mourning wreath will be placed on the Tower to honor Hugh and his lifetime of service to others. #KingUniversity (fb)

After attending an amazing Vocal Arts Masterclass in Bristol, some of our guests from Abingdon High School connected again with King artist in residence Aaron Blake — and met at The Met! Mr. Blake took time out from his role as Basilio in “Le Nozze di Figaro” to visit with Brandy Baxter and her students and talk about his experiences at The Metropolitan Opera and Juilliard. Watch for more information soon on upcoming (local) opportunities to learn with Mr. Blake! #kinguniversity (fb)