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More than 100 guests celebrated the grand reopening of the Kenneth J. Smith Building on 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Sidney 麻豆映画传媒 during an April 19 ribbon cutting and open house that ended with tours of the facility.

鈥淲e are so grateful you joined us today to celebrate this beautiful facility,鈥� said MCC President Stacy H. Young, Ph.D. 鈥淭his building opened in 1966 as Instruction East and was most recently updated in 1999. Ironically, exactly eight years ago today, it was renamed in honor of Kenneth J. Smith, during the college鈥檚 50th anniversary community celebration to commemorate Mr. Smith鈥檚 years of distinguished service to the college.鈥�

Smith joined MCC in 1965 as the college鈥檚 first instructor of biological sciences. As times changed, his title changed to Natural Science Instructor 鈥� a position he held until his retirement in 1996. After retirement he served as a distinguished adjunct instructor. Smith also established the college鈥檚 first choir, the MCC Choir, in 1967, which he directed for 13 years. He organized the MCC Community band and wrote the music for MCC鈥檚 Alma Mater.

The newly renovated building is at the heart of the college鈥檚 $7 million 鈥淭ransforming Lives, Empowering People鈥� major gifts campaign. It features specialized classrooms, advanced labs and inviting student spaces to give students top-class STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning experiences. Home to the college鈥檚 nursing, allied health and science offerings, the facility boasts high-tech science and nursing simulation tools, lab equipment, inviting student spaces and leading-edge technology, all aimed at delivering coursework in areas such as nursing, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, sciences and more.

鈥淗aving served as one of your representatives on the Board of Trustees now for 42 years, I have seen a lot of changes,鈥� said Board Chair Karen Carbonelli. 鈥淎s we look around, it鈥檚 amazing to think of how this former farm field has been transformed into a leading educational institution that has served well over 125,000 learners since it was established.

鈥淒uring this time, our commitment to serving our community has never wavered. We are proud to partner with you as we continue to grow this college to support economic development, workforce development and overall quality of life in our community,鈥� Carbonelli said.

The Smith Building houses more than half of MCC鈥檚 Sidney 麻豆映画传媒 instructional space. The top level is home to The Center for STEM Learning and the lower level houses The Center for Nursing & Health Careers.

To support its mission to enhance the quality of life in the Greenville area, the Greenville Area Community Foundation last summer awarded MCC a five-year grant totaling $1.25 million, and the Center for STEM Learning was named in honor of the GACF鈥檚 pledge.

Greenville Area Community Foundation Board Chair Peter Blinkilde shared the Foundation鈥檚 passion for this project.

鈥淭he Greenville Area Community Foundation recognizes the education value of our surrounding schools and the value of having 麻豆映画传媒 in our backyard,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hrough generous donations, that has allowed the GACF to provide almost听$9 million in education grants since the GACF鈥檚 inception.听The mission of the GACF and MCC dovetail nicely and for this project enhances education through updated facilities听and a better educational experience.鈥�

The MCC Foundation Board also pledged a lead gift of $1 million.

MCCF President Jane Anderson Beach said the Foundation Board members wanted to show how much the Foundation believes in and works with the college in supporting its mission of transforming lives through quality education.

鈥淲ith its emphasis on health care as well as STEM education, the Smith Building is vital to educating our community for jobs in these high-demand fields,鈥� she said. 鈥淩enovation of the Smith Building, along with the additional campaign initiatives which seek to support students through scholarships, educational support resources and curriculum development directly align with the Foundation鈥檚 mission to support the college鈥檚 efforts to anticipate and address community needs through relationship cultivation and resource stewardship.

鈥淥ur Foundation Board members really want students to be successful and are supportive of all of these measures to help them,鈥� she said.

State Senator Rick Outman said the improvements will have a long-lasting impact on the economic prosperity of the region.

鈥淭raining students in STEM-related fields is a critical part of growing talent, attracting businesses and the state鈥檚 overall success,鈥� Sen. Outman said.

Ken Smith鈥檚 son, MCC emeritus Chemistry Instructor and current adjunct instructor Scott Smith, told attendees 鈥淒ad loved this place. He loved educating so much that during most of his tenure he taught, in addition to a full science load, choir, jazz band, men鈥檚 ensemble and women鈥檚 ensemble at no cost to the college.鈥�

He told of his dad鈥檚 educational journey and how he continued to take post-graduate classes after earning his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees.

鈥淗e was a true role model for lifelong learning,鈥� Scott Smith said, 鈥渁nd he could teach! I attended MCC in the late 1970s and had him for several classes. I remember coming home from classes and saying to mom that dad is a really good teacher.

鈥淚 learned a lot about dad鈥檚 love for MCC while riding in the car from Alma to Sidney with him during my student years at MCC,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are so many memories I could share, but I will share this one.鈥�

He said that when his dad was a junior high school student, he took BB鈥檚 to school and used rubber bands to sling them at other students. One day, they fell out of his pocket during band class. His band instructor, Mr. Fink, told him after class that he was disappointed in his behavior.

鈥淔ast forward to 1965. Dad travels to MCC for his interview as the college鈥檚 first instructor of biological sciences. The secretary tells dad he would be meeting with Dr. Don Fink. He thought no more about it until he met Dr. Fink, his former band instructor and the first president of MCC,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淒ad thought to himself, 鈥榳ell, I guess I might as well forget this one,鈥� until Dr. Fink shook his hand and said, 鈥楰enny, it鈥檚 so good to see you,鈥欌�� and dad knew all was well.

鈥淎nd so began a lifelong adventure for Ken Smith, and we hope that because of this beautiful building we are rededicating today, it will set in motion a life of positive adventures for our students,鈥� he said.

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Renovation of the Kenneth J. Smith Building is part of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 $7 million 鈥淭ransforming Lives, Empowering People鈥� major gifts campaign, which is entering its final stage by stepping out into the community for support.

鈥淲e are seeking support at any level, from a few dollars all the way up to naming opportunities, to help us continue to improve the quality of life in our region,鈥� said MCC President Stacy H. Young, Ph.D.

In addition to the building renovation, other campaign initiatives include:

For more information about MCC鈥檚 鈥淭ransforming Lives, Empowering People鈥漜ampaign, visit montcalm.edu/mccf or contact MCCF Executive Director Lisa Lund at lisal@montcalm.edu or 989-328-1284.

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Media contact:
Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833