Colorado Christian University celebrated its most successful President’s Weekend to date in September 2025, welcoming distinguished guests, alumni, donors, and friends to Beaver Creek, Colorado, for three days of inspiration, worship, and record-setting generosity. The fifth gathering since the event’s founding in 2021 raised an unprecedented $5.9 million in gifts and pledges to advance the University’s mission of Christ-centered higher education.
Inspiring Leadership and Testimonies
The weekend’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Ben Carson, world-renowned neurosurgeon, best-selling author, and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Sharing his journey from poverty in Detroit to pioneering advances in neurosurgery, Carson pointed to his mother’s Christian faith and her insistence on daily reading as decisive influences in his life.
Carson’s message reinforced themes central to CCU’s mission: faith and freedom, the American dream, and the transformative role of education. He emphasized that lasting impact begins with personal responsibility:
“The person who has the most influence on what happens to you — is you.”
We’re living in a time where people are trying to push God into the background, but we must be at the forefront of resistance for that. God has not given us a spirit of fear, and trust in God makes all the difference.
His wife, Candy Carson, joined a panel discussion on education and leadership, highlighting the critical role of early childhood literacy and reflecting on the hunger for truth she witnesses on college campuses nationwide. Her insights resonated with the University’s commitment to integrating faith and learning.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos also contributed to the weekend, sending a video message of encouragement. “You are helping to prepare the next generation to take their place in standing firm,” she said. “You are training disciples to further God’s kingdom here on earth, and you have a unique role in doing so at CCU.”
CCU President Eric Hogue praised the Carsons and DeVos for embodying the very values the University seeks to instill in its graduates: unwavering faith, commitment to excellence, and courage in leadership.
A Record-Breaking Moment for CCU
The weekend also marked a milestone in fundraising, with $5.9 million in commitments directed toward vital University priorities. Highlights included:
- $800,000 designated for CCU’s growing endowment.
- $1.9 million toward the planned Science and Engineering Center.
- $1.3 million in gifts and pledges for athletics facilities, completing a $2 million challenge match from CCU alumni Scott (B.S. '91) and Donna (B.A. '91) Miller and Interstate Batteries.
- Additional funds supporting scholarships and other University initiatives.
Since its inception, President’s Weekend has raised more than $22 million to advance CCU’s mission, becoming one of the University’s most significant donor gatherings.
“President’s Weekend continues to demonstrate the extraordinary generosity of our cherished donors,” said President Hogue. “These gifts are not just numbers on a page — they represent lives transformed through scholarships, new facilities, and the strengthening of our endowment.”
Vice President of University Advancement Daniel LaBry echoed the sentiment: “It’s more than fundraising; it’s about shared worship, shared vision, and shared commitment to the future of CCU. The generosity we witnessed in Beaver Creek will impact students for generations to come.”
Worship, Fellowship, and Celebration
In addition to inspiring addresses and fundraising milestones, the weekend offered meaningful moments of worship, reflection, and community. Guests participated in daily devotions led by Dr. Richard Blackaby, worshiped together under the leadership of the Brenton Brown Band, and enjoyed entertainment from emcee and comedian Adam Christing.
What emerged was more than just a record-setting fundraising event — it was a celebration of shared faith and vision. Donors, alumni, and friends of the University left Beaver Creek with renewed commitment to advancing CCU’s mission of cultivating leaders who impact the world with grace and truth.
Looking Ahead
As CCU looks to the future, the momentum from this year’s gathering provides both encouragement and challenge. The funds raised will expand opportunities for students, strengthen academic and athletic programs, and build the foundation for the next chapter of growth.
The next President’s Weekend is scheduled for February 2027 — and with the success of 2025 as its foundation, it promises to be another landmark moment in the University’s history.