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 Heartland has moved to 2201 Woodlawn Road. The new
facility offers more classroom space that is larger and equipped
with the most up to date learning tools such as computers and white
boards, items that have become essential in today’s learning
environment.
The new facility offers a student lounge area,
meeting space and space for proctoring, plus plenty of office space
for administration.
Kristi Powell
demonstrates new student chairs that are designed to be used sitting
forward or backward. On Thursday the
celebration began with a ribbon cut, hosted by the Ribbon Cut Team
at Lincoln Daily News. The turnout for the open house was so large,
that HCC staff working with the ribbon cut asked that there be
specific people invited to stand behind the ribbon with HCC
President Rob Widmer and the Associate Director of the Lincoln
Center Kristi Powell.
At the opening of the ribbon cut ceremony, comments were offered by
Nila Smith, acknowledging and thanking HCC for it’s commitment to
higher education and its commitment to the Lincoln and Logan County
community.
The microphone was turned over to President Widmer
who addressed the crowd. This is Widmer’s final year as president of
the college. He will be retiring the end of June, so before giving
him the mic, he was thanked for his dedication and vision and
received a well-deserved round of applause from the staff and his
board of trustees.
Widmer began by returning the thank you to all those he has served.
He then thanked the community for their attendance. He noted that
the effort to expand in Lincoln had seen a few “starts and stops”
but he was excited to be at the new location, and he was confident
that everyone on his board as well as staff was equally excited.
He noted that Kristi Powell is as excited as he is about the move,
and he also noted that Kristi has been with HCC about as long as he
has. He noted they started working with the college in the same
month and have been serving HCC for well over 20 years.
The college is planning to offer a CNA program at the new facility,
will be expanding its adult education offerings in Lincoln and will
also be offering agricultural education.
Widmer also took the time to acknowledge the members of his board of
trustees who were standing with him behind the ribbon.
He concluded offering a personal thanks to all the staff whom he
said “have been so committed and so engaged.”
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The microphone was handed over to Kristi Powell who
talked about how excited she was to have been a part of this
accomplishment. She thanked her staff, naming each one, and
expressing that they had not only worked hard to get to this day,
they had been supportive and understanding of her personally as
“they have been amazing, mostly putting up with me through this
whole thing.” On hand for the ribbon cut was
one very special guest – President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was
portrayed by Gary Simpkins of Heyworth. Simpkins is a long-time
Lincoln interpreter and has visited the city of Lincoln on many
occasions and has “christened the city” as Abraham Lincoln.
Simpkins said that he had been representing President Lincoln for 40
years. He first read the Gettysburg Address at a Memorial Day
Service at Chenoa. He said this proclamation would then be the first
Lincoln event of his 41st year.
He began speaking as himself, then read a
proclamation in the character of Lincoln.
Switching to his interpretation, he then read the proclamation as
President Abraham Lincoln.
After Simpkins finished community leaders present were recognized:
Logan County Circuit Clerk Mary Kelley, Logan County Tourism Bureau
Board Members Shawn Taylor and Gail Apel-Sasse, Lincoln Ward 4
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki and Mayor Seth Goodman.
Mayor Goodman brought up the end of the speakers congratulating HCC
for their big move, but at the same time expressing that he is going
to miss having the HCC staff in the downtown area, as he can see
them from his office window at city hall, and he said he would miss
that.
When Goodman had finished, the ribbon was cut and
guests were invited to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and free ice
cream on the lawn of the new center. Live music was being provided
and there was an inflatable play area for kids.
Tours were being given inside the building, and staff was quick and
happy to lead folks through and talk about all the wonderful new
offerings the college will provide to Lincoln and Logan County
citizens.
The new Lincoln Center is located at 2201 Woodlawn Road. The front
doors of the building lead to the United Community Bank. On the back
side of the building is the main entrance to HCC. Parking for the
college is also on the back side of the building.
Powell invited visitors to stop in and visit the new Lincoln Center
at any time, noting that there is an ‘open door’ policy at the
college, and staff will always be happy to talk to guests about the
new facility, the college, and the programs offered at the Lincoln
Center.
See slideshow:
Community welcomes new
Heartland Community College Lincoln Center - slideshow
[Nila Smith] |
