The Gilchrist Foundation Helps Briar Cliff Capture 100 Years of History
Briar Cliff University, nestled in the hills of northwest Sioux City, has been a cornerstone of higher education in the region for nearly a century. Now, thanks to support from the Gilchrist Foundation, the university will document its remarkable story for future generations.
The Foundation awarded Briar Cliff University a $10,000 grant to help fund the initial development of a new documentary project, A Most Unlikely Place: A Century of Faith, Service, and Learning, which will chronicle the University’s 100-year history.
“This documentary is not just about our past; it’s about the values that continue to guide us today,” said Dr. Matthew Draud, President of Briar Cliff University. “We are grateful to The Gilchrist Foundation for helping us begin this important work of preserving and sharing the story of Briar Cliff’s founding, its mission, and the lives it has touched over the past century.”
Supporting the university’s documentary reflects the Gilchrist Foundation’s mission to strengthen the long-term viability of local organizations by funding special projects rather than short-term operating needs.
Documenting Briar Cliff’s Story
The documentary will trace Briar Cliff’s journey from its founding in 1930 by the Sisters of St. Francis and Bishop Edmond Heelan to its evolution into a modern Catholic liberal arts university rooted in Franciscan values.
The Gilchrist Foundation grant will support the project’s pre-production phase, including story and script development, archival research, oral history interviews, and visual planning. This foundational work will result in a production-ready blueprint for a public television-quality film that celebrates Briar Cliff’s enduring mission of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community service.
Scheduled for release near the university’s 100th anniversary in 2030, the documentary will preserve and present Briar Cliff’s legacy for future generations—capturing stories of leadership, faith, and the transformative power of education.
A Legacy of Growth and Innovation
Founded as a two-year college for women in 1930, Briar Cliff quickly expanded, becoming a four-year institution in 1937 and officially coeducational in 1966. That same year, the Chargers athletics program began competition.
Over the decades, Briar Cliff has continued to grow, adding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, including its first doctorate, the Doctor of Nurse Practice, in 2013. Campus development has mirrored this academic expansion, from early additions like the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace in 1959 to modern facilities such as the Stark Student Center in 2000, the McCoy Arnold Center in 2004, and the Charger Dome in 2012.
A major renovation of Heelan Hall in 2013 added state-of-the-art science labs and a digital media space, while the Mayfair Campus, opened in 2015, expanded graduate programming. Today, Briar Cliff remains committed to providing an education that integrates academic rigor with Franciscan values and service to others.
The Gilchrist Foundation’s Mission
The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist of Sioux City to honor her family’s long tradition of philanthropy. Throughout her life, Jocelyn supported the arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting, and disaster relief—both personally and through the Foundation.
Since her passing in 2008, the Foundation has continued this legacy by investing in projects that build lasting impact. Its mission is to strengthen charitable organizations and enable transformative projects that enrich communities, rather than simply funding short-term needs.
To learn more about the Gilchrist Foundation, visit thegilchristfoundation.org.