J. F. Drake State Technical College recently
held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 45,000 square foot Library/Technology
Center. The new facility will alleviate the college’s current
instructional space shortage, while providing for future program expansion
of technology on the campus.
Dr. Helen McAlpine, president of J. F. Drake State
Technical College, led the groundbreaking ceremony by introducing program
guests, elected officials and other dignitaries.
U. S. Congressman Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) was in attendance to
announce the $1.2 million dollars that were secured from his office to
help build the center. "Drake’s center competed for funds based on
its own merits," stated Cramer. "President Helen McAlpine worked
diligently in pleading her case to gain my office’s support of the
Center and her diligence paid off."
Funds have also been received from Senator Jeff Enfinger,
(D-Huntsville), who secured an initial $400,000 state grant, during the
college’s first announcement of their plans to construct the facility.
Along with U. S. Congressman Bud Cramer (D-Ala.), other
elected officials and dignitaries attended including Mayor Loretta
Spencer, City of Huntsville; Mayor Jan Wells, City of Madison; Ms. Barbara
Gordon, representing Representative Laura Hall, District 19; Dr. Mary Jane
Caylor, Alabama State Board of Education Member, District 8; Councilman
Richard Showers, District 1; Commissioner Prince Preyer, Jr., District 6;
and Mr. Ronnie Boles, Drake State Technical College Advisory Board Member.
As stated during President Helen McAlpine’s welcoming
comments, the Center will boast several achievements including: becoming
the first building built on campus since 1981; increasing the availability
of information for students; positioning the college to offer more
short-term training for business/industry courses; posturing the college
for obtaining accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and to better prepare
workers for the community’s high-tech workforce.
