The University of North Carolina Asheville is proud to announce a significant gift from alumna Patty Higgins ’75 and her husband, Wayne Higgins, in support of the upcoming renovation of Lipinsky Hall, home to the University’s Department of Music. In recognition of their generosity, a newly renovated performance and rehearsal space will be named The Patty ’75 and Wayne Higgins Piano Practice Studio, honoring the couple’s enduring commitment to the arts, academic excellence, and student success.
This leadership gift marks an important milestone in UNC Asheville’s efforts to revitalize one of its most iconic academic and cultural buildings. The Lipinsky Hall renovation will modernize instructional and performance spaces, improve accessibility, and create state-of-the-art facilities that foster creativity, collaboration, and community engagement.
“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort. “The Patty ‘75 and Wayne Higgins Piano Practice Studio will serve as a cornerstone for artistic expression and innovation at UNC Asheville. Their generosity ensures that future generations of students will continue to develop their talents in an environment that reflects the quality and vibrancy of their education.”
Patty and Wayne Higgins expressed their desire to give back in a way that would directly support students and the creative community that shaped Patty’s own undergraduate experience.
“UNC Asheville helped open the door to a lifelong appreciation for the arts,” said Patty Higgins. “We’re thrilled to help provide a space where students can refine their craft, build confidence, and express themselves creatively. We believe strongly in the power of the arts to transform lives—and in UNC Asheville’s mission to inspire that transformation.”
Patty and Wayne Higgins have a deep history of philanthropy in Western North Carolina, especially in education. They also have an endowed scholarship named for them at UNC Asheville that will benefit degree-seeking students from North Carolina in perpetuity. Their enduring commitment to supporting student success, in many forms, will benefit generations to come.
Lipinsky Hall has long served as a campus and community hub for the performing arts. The planned renovations will update academic spaces, provide practice and performance spaces for students, and enhance acoustics, lighting, and seating—while preserving the historic character and spirit of the building.
“Lipinsky Hall has always been a space for focused education and intentional artistic growth, as well as for joyful professional performance,” said Dr. Toby King, Chair of the Music Department. “A generous gift like this acknowledges the hard work that goes on as students and faculty prepare behind the scenes, before our music is unveiled on stage and in public. The Patty ‘75 and Wayne Higgins Piano Practice Studio will be an impactful resource for our students, as they pursue their passion for music and performance at the highest level, and share it with the community.”
The Higgins’ gift helps to ensure the success of UNC Asheville’s Centennial Campaign, a historic initiative to raise $100 million to support strategic investments in academic excellence, capital improvements, student scholarships, and community engagement that will propel the University into its second century of serving our students, our region, and the world.
“We are deeply grateful to Patty and Wayne for their extraordinary leadership gift in support of the Lipinsky Hall renovation,” said Kirk I. Swenson, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement. “Their generosity exemplifies a profound commitment to the arts and humanities at UNC Asheville and will have a lasting impact on generations of students, faculty, and community members. This gift helps us to meet the $1 million challenge offered by an anonymous alumna donor that encourages others to help make this vital renovation a reality.”
Renovation of Lipinsky Hall is slated to begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed and open for use by the following academic year.
For more information or to learn how to support the Lipinsky Hall renovation, visit https://giving.unca.edu or contact Kirk Swenson, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, at kswenson@unca.edu.
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