Publish Date: Sep 30, 2016
Hartnell’s New STEM Center Building to be unveiled Friday
SALINAS, Calif. – The Hartnell Community College District is proud to announce the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of its new STEM Center at 411 Central Avenue, Salinas, CA on Friday, September 30, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. The ceremony will also include a sculpture dedication in Honor of Kong Yau Lowe & Kwai Ning Lowe who instilled the importance of an education.
“This building is a testament of the community's commitment to progress and opportunity,” said Erica Padilla-Chavez, President of the HCCD Board of Trustees. “Hartnell is proud to be home to the next generation of scientists, engineers and community leaders and now they have this amazing building that will house encouragement as they work toward completion.”
The STEM Center is a 54,000 square foot building with an enhanced planetarium that is twice the size of the existing one, has lecture halls, state-of-the-art labs, a Student Center, faculty offices, dean and staff area and much more.
“On behalf of all my colleagues on the Board of Trustees, we thank the community for embracing our students and supporting Hartnell as we strive to provide state of the art facilities for students," added Padilla-Chavez.
The special sculpture dedication is timely. Roger Berry designed “Jaipure” at the request of Marilyn Long, who along with five of her siblings all graduated from Hartnell College and in an effort to give back to their Alma matter, the Long Family Foundation partnered with Hartnell to commission an artist to create the sculpture to be installed in front of the new STEM Center.
The Ribbon Cutting and Sculpture Dedication Ceremony will include:
- Joe Gunter, Mayor, City of Salinas
- Dr. Willard Lewallen, Superintendent/President, Hartnell College
- Erica Padilla-Chavez, President, HCCD Governing Board
- Shannon Bliss, Dean, Hartnell College
- Marilyn Long, Long Family Foundation
- Jackie Cruz, Vice President, Advancement and Development
- Ana Ibarra, Hartnell Alumna
- Rolando Perez, Hartnell Alumnus
Hartnell Community College District – established in 1920
The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the California Innovation Award for CSin3 – a Computer Science degree in three years . We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu .
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