Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Contact:
David Steele
(863)
944-9119
LAKELAND,
FL (February 26, 2007) - Several hundred faculty, staff, students and community members gathered Monday to celebrate the opening of the new Lakeland Technology Building on the campus shared by Polk Community College and the University of South Florida.
The new building, constructed at a cost of over $30 million dollars, is the product of years of planning and legislative activity led by Sen. J.D. Alexander (R-Lake Wales). According to Dr. Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, “Today’s event is the result of one of the most determined examples of leadership I have ever seen. Sen. Alexander wanted our community to have this state-of-the-art building, and he worked tirelessly to make it happen.”
The new building, located on US-98, between Lakeland and Bartow, includes over 100 miles of high tech cabling, over 1,200 computers, dozens of high-level technology teaching spaces, as well as student services and faculty offices.
Speaking after the official ribbon-cutting, Dr. Eileen Holden, President of Polk Community College described the event as “a highlight in the history of our institutions” and also credited Sen. Alexander for his leadership: “He clearly shepherded this building through the legislative process, and generations of students will have him to thank.”
The dedication ceremony took place in one of the building’s focal points, a joint-use teaching auditorium which seats over 250 students. Dr. Marshall Goodman, VP and CEO of USF Lakeland, noted that “every seat was filled, and there were people standing along the walls and in the aisles.” According to Goodman, “I think as many people turned out to congratulate the Senator as to see the new building – they all know what a crucial role he played.”
The event was also attended by U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, State Sen. Paula Dockery, and Rep. Seth McKeel, as well as numerous elected officials and community leaders. The invocation was provided by Lakeland Commissioner Gow Fields, a graduate of PCC and USF, and the emcee was USF Lakeland Student Government Association President Kristen Dailey, a graduate of PCC who will be receiving her Bachelor’s degree from USF this semester.
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