The banner showed $5 million.

"Is that enough?" came the voice from the bullhorn.

"No!" yelled about 275 students, faculty, staff, administrators, supporters and community guests.

The scissor lift rose another few feet and the banner unfurled to $10 million.

"Enough?"

"No!"

The motor buzzed, the lift ascended further, passengers President D. Merrill Ewert and Sunny the Sunbird continued to wave. As the lift reached 24 feet in the sun and breeze above East Hall Green, the banner inched past $20 million.

"One more!"

"$20.2 million," said the man with the bullhorn, and the crowd's roar ended the quiet phase of the Building on Excellence campaign for Fresno Pacific University. The $36-million effort to build a fine arts center and School of Education Building, as well as increase scholarships, academic programs and endowments was very, very public.  

Never let it be said Fresno Pacific University President D. Merrill Ewert didn't rise to an occasion--rise, as in 30 feet off the ground in a hot-air balloon. The occasion? The kick-off of FPU's $36 million capital campaign.