Jay and Hilde Dryden to serve as Bellmasters during annual opening ceremony
HENDERSON, Tennessee — Freed-Hardeman University will begin its 157th academic year with two milestone events Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Students, alumni and guests are invited to celebrate the reopening of Dryden Auditorium with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by the annual Tolling of the Bell ceremony at 10:30 a.m. inside the auditorium. Jay and Hilde Dryden, two of the many alumni and university friends who made the renovation project possible, will serve as Bellmasters.
“The reopening of Dryden Auditorium and the Tolling of the Bell ceremony represent both our heritage and our future,” FHU President Keith Harris said. “As we welcome students to a new academic year, we are grateful for the generations of supporters whose vision and generosity continue to shape the Freed-Hardeman experience.”
Since 1977, Dryden Auditorium — formerly known as Loyd Auditorium — has served as a central gathering place on FHU’s campus, hosting daily chapel services, the annual Bible Lectureship, Makin’ Music, commencement ceremonies, benefit dinners and numerous community events. Major renovations began in the summer of 2024 and included new seating, flooring, paint, ceiling tiles, a renovated stage, curtains, an upgraded sound and audiovisual system and expanded restroom facilities.
Activities within the auditorium resumed in early 2025 after phase one interior renovations were completed. Construction continued through 2026 to add an elevator and an exterior porte-cochère designed to improve accessibility and provide a covered arrival and departure area.
The improvements were made possible through the generosity of many alumni and friends of the university, including FHU Board of Trustees member Jay Dryden and his wife, Hilde. The ribbon cutting ceremony will mark the official reopening of the renovated venue, now bearing the Dryden family name in honor of Jay’s great-grandfather, David Thomas Dryden.
“Dryden Auditorium is the center of activity for both the FHU campus and the surrounding community, hosting events both large and small,” FHU Senior Vice President Dave Clouse said. “We are deeply grateful to the Dryden family and to the many other donors whose generosity made these improvements possible.”
Jay Dryden is a 2001 Freed-Hardeman alumnus, Certified Financial Planner and co-founder of Vector Wealth Strategies in Huntsville, Alabama. A member of FHU’s Board of Trustees since 2012, he has long supported the university through philanthropy, student mentorship and leadership. Hilde Dryden is also an FHU alumna, and as the first in her family to attend a Christian university, she inspired the creation of the Genesis Scholarship, which supports students who are also the first in their families to attend a Christian university. Together, Jay and Hilde are committed to helping future generations of students have access to the same Christ-centered education that shaped their own lives.
“One of the things I appreciate most about my time at Freed-Hardeman is something I probably appreciated the least while I was a student — the opportunity to stop each day with the entire campus community and focus on our Creator for a few minutes in chapel,” Jay Dryden said. “That’s an experience you don’t fully understand until years later, when you realize how rare it is. The auditorium isn’t just a building; it’s where generations of students have worshiped together, built lifelong relationships and celebrated one of life’s most meaningful milestones. Hilde and I are grateful to be among the many alumni and friends helping preserve that experience for generations to come.”
Following the ribbon cutting, Jay and Hilde Dryden will serve as Bellmasters for the annual Tolling of the Bell. Since the year 2000, the ceremony has been a longstanding tradition marking the beginning of each academic year at Freed-Hardeman University. The ceremony will formally ring in the university’s 157th year.
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.
(PHOTO: Jay and Hilde Dryden)
