Wartburg Renaming Centennial Complex

Wartburg has announced that they will rename a residence hall complex on campus. Centennial Complex, which comprised Centennial, Vollmer, and Hebron Halls, will now be known as Ubuntu Center. The change is being made to affirm the college’s shared commitment to diversity. Ubuntu is an African philosophy often translated to “I am, because we are.” The college will also rename Centennial Hall in honor of Harry and Polly Slife. The Slifes, who passed away in 1994, were advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the Cedar Valley and on the Wartburg campus. Vollmer and Hebron Halls will maintain their names. The process of discerning a new name began in June of 2021 with a $2 million gift from Jack and Sarah Salzwedel. Sarah is the daughter of the Slifes.