OSKALOOSA — William Penn University has received $500,000 from the George Daily Charitable Trust for the renovation of historic Spencer Chapel, which will reopen as the Spencer Performing Arts Center.
The Trust approved $350,000 for the project and an additional $150,000 as a challenge grant to encourage new donor support, matching each dollar of new gifts with two. William Penn met the challenge in full, with alumni, friends, foundations, and community members contributing more than $350,000 in new gifts to the project.
“We are deeply grateful to the George Daily Charitable Trust. Its challenge inspired our alumni, friends, and community to join in, and through the Trust’s commitment to projects that benefit this community, George Daily’s legacy lives on. The Spencer Performing Arts Center will once again bring people together, serving William Penn and the wider community for generations to come,” said Kenneth Oliver, Executive Vice President for Advancement at William Penn University.
Built in 1923, Spencer Chapel served as the spiritual and cultural heart of the university for more than seven decades, hosting religious services, convocations, guest lectures, musical performances, and theatrical productions. The renovation will bring the building back into use for the first time since the late 1990s, restoring its original role as a gathering place for campus and community.
The Spencer Performing Arts Center will provide a modern venue for William Penn’s fine arts programs, guest lecturers, student activities, and community events, along with classroom and meeting space.
Upgrades include theater seating for 472, updated audio/visual systems, a conference room, and improved accessibility throughout, including a new elevator. A geothermal heating and cooling system, which draws on stable underground temperatures, will reduce the building’s energy use.
The building’s historic character remains intact: the roof, trim, columns, windows, and stage are being preserved or restored to retain their original appearance.
Interior demolition began in October 2025, and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The George Daily Charitable Trust supports projects that develop leadership and initiative for the benefit of the community.
