Eastern Breaks Ground On First New Building In Almost 40 Years
(Press Release 05-05-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

A crowd of more than 150 people gathered on the front lawn of Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton on Friday (May 4), as the junior college celebrated the groundbreaking of its new $7.1 million Student Life and Learning Center.

“At Eastern Oklahoma State College, students are the top priority,” Oklahoma Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Glen D. Johnson said at the ceremony. “It is very important that we have facilities that are attractive to students. This Student Life and Learning Center will be where campus life intersects.”

Johnson, along with Eastern President Stephen E. Smith, State Sen. Richard Lerblance (D- Hartshorne), Rep. Ed Cannady, (D-Porum) and Eastern Chairperson Burl Williams spoke to supporters about the importance of higher education in Oklahoma.

“We owe it to the students of the state of Oklahoma to provide a quality and affordable education,” Lerblance said. “This is a godsend, and it is truly deserved, needed and appreciated.”

The two-story, 36,500 square-foot facility will be the first new building on Wilburton’s campus in more than 40 years. Financing for the facility is part of the 2005 state higher education bond issue.

The new center will host a number of facilities including a cyber café, expanded book store, student lounge and cafeteria, a ballroom, classrooms and counseling center, student government offices and meeting room and Dean of Student’s office.

The new building will be located on what is now the main parking lot in the center of campus and elevated almost six feet above the current parking grade. When construction begins, most of what is now the campus central area south of the plaza clock-tower area will be fenced off and closed for construction.

“There are a lot of memories in the old E.T. Dunlap Student Union, but it’s the dawn of a new day” President Smith said. “It’s all about focusing on the students. It’s not just about us – it’s also about our community.”

Opening for the Life and Learning Center is slated for June 2008.

Caption info:
A crowd of more than 150 people gathered on the front lawn of Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton on Friday (May 4), as the junior college celebrated the groundbreaking of its new $7.1 million Student Life and Learning Center. Those participating in the groundbreaking included, Chris Butler, Eastern history instructor; Rudy O’Donley, Physical Plant Director; Mary Edith Butler, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs; Burl Williams, Eastern Board of Regents Chairperson; Justin Kennedy, Eastern Student Government president; Leah McLaughlin, Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management; Dr. Stephen E. Smith, Eastern president; Ben Curtis, Eastern Alumni Association president; Dr. Glen D. Johnson, Oklahoma Chancellor of Higher Education; Sen. Richard Lerblance; Ken Bass, Eastern Board of Regents; Audrey Balentine, Eastern Board of Regents; Gene Walker, Chairperson Eastern Development Foundation; Rep. Ed Cannady; Bill Hannah CEO Nabholz Construction; Dale Covington, Eastern Board of Regents; Mark Jordan, Eastern Board of Regents; Stephen Brinlee, Wilburton mayor and John Shero, Eastern Board of Regents.

Related Story::
Groundbreaking For New Building At College Slated For May 4
Oklahoma Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Glen D. Johnson is slated to lead the groundbreaking for the first new building on the Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton campus in more than 40 years before addressing spring commencement exercises 6:30 p.m. Friday (May 4) in the field house.