- The Crisp Center is the latest addition to Murray State’s regional campuses. Photo by Lexy Gross // The News
The classroom walls are lined with the latest technology, light floods the main lobby and the books are neatly stacked on desks and in closets.
The Murray State University Crisp Center, a new regional campus in Paducah, Ky., opened Tuesday afternoon, and will see its first students through the front door Monday.
The nearly $10 million project completion was celebrated by Murray State faculty, staff and students, as well as supporters in the Paducah area.
Brian Van Horn, dean of continuing education and academic outreach, gave guests tours of the building and explained the significance of providing Murray State’s service to surrounding regions.
“Continuing education really is difficult for some students we see because they might work two or three part-time jobs to make ends meet,” Van Horn said.
The average student enrolled at the Crisp Center are between the ages of 30 and 35 and work at least one part-time job. The students are also primarily female, Van Horn said.
The largest classroom will seat 64 people, while most of the 17 classrooms will accommodate much smaller sizes. A few of the classrooms in the Crisp Center have TV monitors and cameras allowing students to view educators that might be away from the Paducah campus. Other features include temporary offices for traveling faculty to meet with students, a classroom supply closet for education students and several areas for students to relax.
Jennifer Blasdel, a junior from Paducah, will be attending the Crisp Center in the spring as a double major in education fields. She said the Crisp Center provides the space necessary for group meetings; something the former regional campus did not.
“The regional campus is closer to my house and closer to my job,” Blasdel said. “It’s closer to home – I don’t have to drive 45 minutes to get an education.”
Interim President Tim Miller invited Board of Regents member Susan Guess to speak before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guess lives in Paducah and is the senior vice president and marketing director at Paducah Bank. Miller noted Guess’ intense energy and dedication to the Paducah campus.
“Today we begin a new era in higher education in Paducah,” Guess said. “Today we give students all across this region an opportunity that did not exist before this moment.”
Miller, Van Horn and board chairman Constantine Curris also recognized the efforts of former University President Randy Dunn and his contributions to the regional campus.
Harry Crisp II, chairman of Pepsi MidAmerica, also spoke and explained the history between his family and Murray State. The Crisp family provided a $1.3 million donation to help equip the building and provide an endowment for scholarships to students. The Crisp Center was named after Harry’s grandfather.
Members of the community gathered as the ribbon was cut on the new regional campus and tours were given through the afternoon.
Said Curris: “It is a promise that says to all that higher education can come to you, and that higher education can be a vital part of the growth and prosperity of this region.”
Story by Lexy Gross, Editor-in-Chief. Follow her on Twitter @lexygross.