Contact: Jeff Campa, Calvary University, 816-322-0110, jeff.campa@calvary.edu

FORT MORGAN, Colo., Jan. 17, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Calvary University formally took ownership of the former middle school in Fort Morgan, Colorado, as closing was finalized on Tuesday, January 16. Calvary officials had been working for several months with Morgan County School District leaders to complete the transaction, and both groups are excited about Calvary's new presence in the Fort Morgan area.

Calvary plans to develop the 7.5-acre property and the 130,000 square-foot building to house the Calvary University Innovation Center, which will be designed to facilitate collaboration between Calvary's academic programs, local businesses and ministries, and the community as a whole. Calvary University will be reaching out to businesses and ministries who might have interest in housing their offices at the Innovation Center, as a way of connecting students with real-world community partners with whom students can serve and grow.

Calvary University's mission is "to prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the biblical worldview," and is built on four distinctives: (1) the Bible as the foundation of its courses and programs, (2) high quality programs at an affordable cost, (3) highly marketable degrees for its graduates, and (4) an environment for growth and not just learning. Calvary University offers more than 60 degrees through its online global campus and its main campus in Kansas City, Missouri, and Calvary plans to highlight several of those at the Innovation Center (including undergraduate and graduate programs in Bible and theology, biblical counseling, and business administration and organizational leadership, and an undergraduate emphasis in intercultural studies). Calvary also plans to develop new programs in Colorado based on community need and in cooperation with Morgan Community College.

Calvary University President, Dr. Christopher Cone sees this move as significant for Calvary's future growth and service: "We are thrilled with this opportunity to be part of the Fort Morgan community, and we have already begun the process of developing collaboration with Morgan Community College and other community partners. Even though those discussions are just beginning we are thankful for the new relationships being formed, and for the chance to work beside those already working hard to serve the people of Colorado. We hope and pray that Calvary University will be a blessing there, and we will work hard to ensure that happens."

Calvary's Innovation Center will be led by Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Jeff Campa, who is in the process of relocating from Kansas City to the Fort Morgan area. Campa wants Calvary's Innovation Center to be a place for students, for community partners, and for the community itself to feel at home and to flourish. Campa added, "This move gives Calvary a platform to complement the rich heritage of this facility in serving the Fort Morgan Community."

While Calvary is now beginning a process of development and approvals, Campa is working for a Fall 2018 launch for the Innovation Center.

For comment or questions, please contact Jeff Campa at jeff.campa@calvary.edu or Dr. Christopher Cone at president@calvary.edu.