0 Students walking on the paths across campus on a beautiful fall day.

Through the Fire

September 28, 2026

This summer, Coach Danielle Heffernan and the Houghton Women’s Volleyball team were preparing for what they imagined would be an unforgettable season. It has indeed been unforgettable. The team is strong. They are remarkable young women we are privileged to call our students, our friends, and Highlanders. As I write, they are preparing to begin conference play and compete for the Empire 8 conference title. They never imagined being this far into their season and neither practicing nor competing on the Dix Family Court. Continued recovery from this summer’s fire at the Nielsen Center means most of their team activity thus far this season has been away from campus.

It happened on Thursday July 23rd. I received a call shortly after 11:00 pm from Vice President for Student LifeBill Burricther ‘92. Safety and Security Officer Mark Dashnau had smelled and observed smoke in the Nielsen Center as he made his rounds and had immediately contacted emergency services.

A few minutes after his call, I met Bill and Matt Webb, our Director of Athletics, at the Nielsen Center. When I arrived, the Houghton Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) was already on the scene. Before the night was over, the emergency response would include most of the fire departments in Northern Allegany County, with the Nielsen parking lots filled with tanker trucks and illuminated by flashing lights. It was a sight to see.

All in all, we were extraordinarily fortunate. The building was empty. No one was hurt. And thanks to the quick response of Officer Dashnau and the responding firefighters, the fire, which started in our Women’s Volleyball team room, was contained and extinguished in that space. The outcome could have been so much worse. Once again, the Lord protected Houghton from what could have been a disastrous outcome. I am grateful.

Still, challenges remain. Smoke damage has been our greatest challenge. Smoke from the fire impacted most of the building. So much so that the entire wing of the building nearest to Shenawana Hall will require additional cleaning and renovation. That part of the building includes locker rooms, restrooms, athletic training, faculty offices, our auxiliary gym with the climbing wall, and swimming pool. The renovation will be significant. We will likely not be able to use that side of the building before summer 2027 at the earliest.

All of Highlander Athletics has been impacted, with our women’s volleyball team being the most directly affected. We are tentatively planning to be able to use the main gymnasium (3 wooden courts), vestibule area, front office suites, and restrooms by late October 2026. Temporary facilities alongside Nielsen will provide access to locker rooms, an athletic training area, and other needed spaces not currently accessible in the Nielsen Center.

There is no question in my mind that the Lord is teaching and preparing us through this fire. He never promised that loving and serving Him meant we would not experience trials. While our preference is usually that He keep us from the fire, we come to understand and prayerfully appreciate that sometimes His way is to walk with us through it. For our student athletes, volleyball and basketball athletes especially, this school year will be a challenging and unforgettable one. But as we courageously face this challenging time together, we will emerge better and stronger for it.

More than anything, through it all, may the name of the Lord our God be glorified.

photo of the nielsen center fire

Houghton University President Wayne Lewis sitting at his desk.

About the Author

A noted teacher, scholar and leader in higher education, government and P12 schools, Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. serves as the 6th President of Houghton University. He is recognized as being a champion for students and families. He writes, speaks and teaches on Christian leadership, organizational leadership and federal and state education policy.

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