Gary Dickinson Student Achievement Center
under construction

Jacob Shellabarger, Corner Post staff

August 19, 2002 - Construction is on schedule for the new Gary Dickinson Student Achievement Center in the Ag building. It will open in early September, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 25-27.

Construction began on the Center after the Winter 2002 semester ended and the Academic Programs and Student Services offices moved downstairs. College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne announced in an e-mail to faculty and staff in late May that Ann Dickinson and the Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation would fund the project with a $500,000 gift.

"Thanks to the foresight and leadership of the Dickinson family, future CAFNR students will have a centralized place to come for help with academic or career path questions and to congregate for meetings and discussions," Payne said. "[The Gary Dickinson Student Achievement Center] will also serve as a showcase area for visiting alumni, corporate visitors and others who come to interact with our students and staff."

Payne tours the construction weekly and personally inspects the craftsmanship that is going into building CAFNR's new reception and meeting space.

The Center will feature a modern and open design, including windows in the main entranceway; wooden borders and corners; brass highlights; and recessed overhead lighting, to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for current and future students. The centerpiece is a resource room, featuring computer kiosks for job searches, a conference area for student study groups, and directories of internships, jobs and CAFNR resources.

"We're all very excited about the new Dickinson Student Achievement Center," CAFNR Academic Programs administrative assistant Kelli Fent said. "It will allow us the chance to properly welcome prospective students, recruiters and alumni. The Center will also allow our staff to work together and be more productive - the meeting areas and open design are much better than the old, maze-like office we had."

CAFNR Associate Dean for Academic Programs Paul Vaughn said he felt the Center would fulfill many goals CAFNR has for its students - academic success, a friendly, encouraging atmosphere and a transition from college life to employment.

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