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MCTC celebrating 40 year anniversary with ground-breaking
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By BARBARA GOLDMAN, Staff Writer
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Maysville Community and Technical College has more than one thing to celebrate including the ground-breaking of a new science and administration building on Wednesday, at 1 p.m.
The new building will be a two-story, 20,000-square-foot structure composed of brick, stucco and glass to compliment similar finishes throughout the Maysville Campus, according to information provided by ground-breaking committee chairperson Cara Clarke.
The building will house a chemistry lab, two biology labs, a microbiology lab, a physics lab, a 60-person lecture room that will be dividable, an office suite and general classrooms, according to Clarke. The building is scheduled to be completed in August 2009.
The building will replace the original labs which have been in existence in their original location since 1968.
"It's time for a state-of-the-art facility," Clarke said. "It's a welcome addition."
The college will also be celebrating four decades of serving the area.
"This year marks our 40th anniversary and we are proud to say we are building on 40 years of excellence. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate as we prepare to move into the future by breaking ground for this much needed science/administration building. This facility will provide new teaching and learning opportunities with the addition of the state of the art labs for biology, microbiology, physics and chemistry," said MCTC President Dr. Ed Story.
The new building will be located in what is currently parking lot B, the faculty parking lot at the back right of the campus.
Clarke said funding for the new facility is made possible because it is designated as a Kentucky General Assembly capitol project, separate from the colleges operational budget.
"So many people worked for this," said Clarke, noting the help of State Sen. Charlie Borders and State Rep. Mike Denham.
Clarke said construction cost is "just over $5 million."
"This is very exciting," said Clarke.
The ground-breaking will incorporate a celebration of the new building and the college's 40-year anniversary, Story's inauguration as president, as well as the new year and increasing student enrollment, said Clarke.
MCTC's enrollment on Aug. 22 was 2,348 students, compared to 2,180 for the same time last fall. The official enrollment for the fall semester won't be achieved until the end of October, said Clarke.
"Our official enrollment for Fall 2007 was 3,635 so we are definitely on track for exceeding that," Clarke said.
Clarke said the college is thrilled to have enrollment up again, especially with changes in funding and the economy.
MCTC is also working to secure funding for future renovations of the original building, with classroom space and offices as primary considerations.
The new chemistry lab will be named after the late Dr. Robert K. Berry, who taught chemistry at the college and was one of the first faculty members.
Sharon Wilson, professor of biology, is starting her 22nd year with the school. Wilson said when she started at MCTC, she shared the first lab at the school with Dr. Story. ?Berry? The school later received a second lab where she currently holds classes.
"The new state-of-the-art facility will give us not only physical room, but will help provide us with the technology and facilities that will even better provide with our hands-on learning for our students," said Wilson.
Mike Quillen, MCTC division chair for the Math, Science, and Agriculture departments said he is looking forward to the new facility equipping the school with the ability "to give a really good education to these students."
"It will be a nice facility where students can come here and have the best," said Quillen who is currently in his 16th year with MCTC. "We're hoping to build the science and math programs and give these students a good alternative close to home."
Quillen said he looks forward to the new faculty.
"We're just excited to have a new home," Quillen said.
Contact Barbara Goldman at barbara.goldman@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 274. |
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