Page 10 - Laker Connection Fall 2015

FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
“I am thrilled when my students latch on to something I introduce to them and THEY get excited about it. Their excitement often en- courages them to learn more about the topic and frequently in- spires them to want to conduct research on it in the laboratory. When a student asks me to mentor them on a semester-long re- search project that I introduced to them, I feel pretty fulfilled!”
- Dr. Michelle Furlong
Department Chair of Biology
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faculty office suite where students can study, work on collaborative projects and more conveniently seek assistance from faculty members. We also in- cluded a room for student organiza- tions associated with Natural Sciences (Tri Beta, Chemistry Club, AMSA, SEEDS, etc.) to hold their meetings and organize club events.”
A dream 10 years in the making, the science building was approved for construction in 2010, however state budget cuts delayed the start of the project until 2013. McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. along with Architect S.L.A.M. Collaborative, Inc., of At- lanta, GSFIC and Carter worked to- gether with Clayton State on the project.
out compromising any critical fea- tures. This project proves that with great teamwork and collaboration, anything is possible.”
Senators Gail Davenport and Valencia Seay announced to area press that, “These funds give Clayton State a real chance to provide the best education possible for our state’s future leaders, especially in the health and biological sciences.”
“We owe much gratitude to our sena- tors and representatives from the Southern Crescent,” noted Dr. Hynes. “Without their support this project could not have happened.”
McCarthy’s Southeast Division President Kevin Kuntz speaks at the “Topping Out” ceremony of the new Science Building.
Excitement grew at the standing room only groundbreaking ceremony when Georgia Governor Nathan Deal pledged $2.9 million to equip the new facility. Concluding his remarks before a large gathering of Clayton State fac- ulty, staff, students and most of the local state legislative delegation, Deal noted the importance of the building to the training of Georgia’s future work- force, and added that an empty build- ing would not be of much help to the students.
According to Furlong, the Furniture, Fixture and Equipment (FF&E) funds Deal spoke of were used mainly for scientific equipment for the new build- ing’s eight instructional labs and eight research labs, and to finish the class- rooms and student spaces in the building.
The campus and community gathered again in 2014 near the Science Build- ing construction site to celebrate “top- ping out.”
Clayton State administrators, faculty (notably natural sciences faculty), staff and students gathered along with Mc-
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have, do the very best you can. Do it with pride. Notmheatftaecrilwithyait jdoebspI’evreatevlyernheeldds, wanitdh-I have had many — from packing cotton at a cotton gin to painting houses — I did my best. And most of
“After almost four years and $10 mil-
lion in revisions, we are so proud that
this day is finally here,” said Kevin
Kuntz, McCarthy’s Southeast Division
President at the groundbreaking cere-
Have an impeccable work ethic. People will
mony on November 14, 2013. “De-
remember how hard you worked, even if the
spite the early setbacks with the state
result was less than desired. Whatever job you
budget cuts, Clayton State will have
all, I had to accept that failure was part of any successful venture.
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