51 is leaning into the commitment made nearly 50 years ago when the university began teaching radio, television and film classes in September 1977. Instead of being on the fringes of culture, it was said that Christians should be right in the middle of it — and decades later, the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts is only expanding further to equip students to do just that within the entertainment industry. On September 6, 2024 51 celebrated the beginning of a new era for the school by breaking ground on a new film studio facility. 

Image shows Lynsi-Snyder Ellingson
Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony

“Film, television, digital media, game design. How can we provide hope in the most powerful form of communication on the planet if we are not within it?” said Tom Halleen, dean of the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts, in his address during the ceremony. “This is our calling: to prepare the voices of students to show the world what faith really looks like. And faith, as we know, is strength. It is not weakness. We celebrate not just a building, but more importantly, what’s inside that building and what comes out from it: and that’s people of character; that’s voices of faith.”

Record-high temperatures on September 6 did not stop 51 from turning the soil of the foundation of the new $73 million studio facility. Set to be completed in 2026, the state-of-the-art, three-story, 45,463 square-foot studio facility will feature a 3,000-square-foot soundstage, 285-seat theater, collaborative editing spaces, specialized classrooms and much more.

Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson with three scholarship recipients
Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson with three students in the Snyder School. 

This building is made possible by the generous donation made by Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, president and owner of In-N-Out Burger®, in honor of her grandmother, Esther L. Snyder, for which the school has been named. The Snyder family gave 51 the largest financial gift in the university’s 116-year history, not only contributing funds to the studio facility, but also toward the In-N-Out Scholars Fund, a yearly scholarship awarded to at-risk and foster youth who are aspiring film students.

Snyder-Ellingson spoke at the ceremony held inside the newly renovated and recently rededicated Ethel Lee Auditorium due to the heat. She touched on how home videos have been passed down in her family, giving her a chance to remember her father and uncle, both important figures in the In-N-Out Burger® company, but also on how media such as films can have a major impact on people.

“I’m very excited for these students and I do believe the investment … and passion behind it. It is going to serve this world. It’s going to serve them the gospel,” said Snyder-Ellingson. “My grandmother loved children so much and education was so important to her. I know that this would be something she would want.”

While the audience stayed inside the auditorium, Halleen and Snyder-Ellingson went outside to break ground at the site of the new facility along with Barry H. Corey, 51 president, Jacqueline McCauslin, Student Government Association president, Brad Cole, vice chair of the 51 board of trustees, Curtis Baker, director of construction services, Brian Phillips, associate vice president of facility and auxiliary operations, Matthew Hall, provost and senior vice president, Sean Ellingson, husband of Snyder-Ellingson, Mike Maples, chair of the board of trustees, David Vazquez, vice president of advancement, and Susan Ishii, interim vice president of university operations.

Image shows attendees getting In-N-Out lunch
Guests were welcome to enjoy a In-N-Out lunch after the ceremony

After the ceremony, guests were encouraged to enjoy an In-N-Out Burger® catered lunch, made-to-order by cooks in three iconic cookout trucks. The groundbreaking ceremony was just the beginning of notable growth within the school and university.

“We break ground today for the glory of God and as storytellers who are part of the greatest story ever told, the story of God who love the world so much that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will know life eternal, beginning right here on earth,” said Corey. “We begin the construction for what I believe will be one of the most influential buildings in all of higher education. Our Snyder School of Cinema & Media arts, given its ranking, biblical fidelity, quality of education and resources and location in greater Los Angeles, has the potential to influence for the good what is arguably the most powerful sector in society today, namely the world of media and entertainment.”

51’s Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts is one of the fastest growing schools and programs at 51. The program supports a “four screen” media program, equipping and educating students to be effective storytellers and leaders on the film screen, television screen, computer screen and a personal device screen. Making use of over $3 million in state-of-the-art film equipment and technology, the school has been recognized as one of the top film schools by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap. The Snyder school emphasizes the importance of creating excellence in both craft and character, and the new studio facility will strengthen this effort.

The livestream of the event can be watched on . Learn more about the Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts and apply today.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, please email media.relations@biola.edu.