Groundbreaking for new Cotttey fine arts building April 18

Cottey College will be holding a groundbreaking for the new Fine Arts Instructional Building at 4 p.m., Friday, April 18. The ceremony will take place in the space between Main Hall and Neale Hall on the north side of the Cottey Campus. The public is welcome to attend.

"This is the fun part," said Dr. Judy Rogers, president of Cottey College. "After concluding a successful campaign, we are able now to start seeing the fruits of that labor. This facility, one of the five priorities of the campaign, will be a bridge to the future as we expand our degree offerings and increase the student population of the college."

The ceremonies will begin promptly at 4 with college officials making a few remarks in advance of the groundbreaking. Afterwards, a second line parade -- student musicians marching in New Orleans style -- will lead a procession of all guests into the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts, where there will be light refreshments, a photography exhibit of the history of fine arts at Cottey, and performances by select fine arts faculty and the Cottey Chamber Singers.

"The groundbreaking, and the new building, will be a tangible reminder of all of the work put into the campaign by so many people," said Carla Farmer, senior major gifts officer and campaign manager. "It's also a tangible reminder of the faith that almost 21,000 donors have in Cottey College."

"A Defining Moment: the Campaign for Cottey College" was a five-year, $35 million campaign that concluded Jan. 31. The college raised more than $40.4 million for five priorities: endowed scholarships, a new Fine Arts Instructional Building, faculty chairs, library enhancements, and unrestricted funding.

Those attending the groundbreaking should park in the lot for the Center for the Arts located on the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada.