Grand Opening, Building Dedication and Ribbon Cutting at CWU This Week

October 19, 2009

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Along with the traditional homecoming activities, Central Washington University is hosting a handful of events this week to celebrate the completion of campus building projects including a grand opening celebration, a ribbon cutting and a building dedication ceremony.

The Department of Aviation is hosting an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new Aviation Training Center. The ribbon cutting is Thursday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m., and the open house goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. The new facility, which is located at Bowers Field Airport in Ellensburg on Elmview Road, provides space for classrooms and flight simulation labs for this rapidly changing and high-demand industry. Those attending the ribbon cutting will get an up-close look at the flight simulators and take a tour of the new building. For more information on the Department of Aviation or the open house, visit http://www.cwu.edu/~flight/.

To celebrate the opening of Wendell Hill Hall, the first residence hall built on campus in more than 40 years, University Housing and New Student Programs is hosting a Grand Opening Ceremony Friday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. The program will begin in the Music Building Concert Hall for a welcome, refreshments and slide show. Participants will then proceed to Wendell Hill Hall building A for a ribbon cutting and tours. Visit http://www.cwu.edu/~housing/reshalls/halls/wendell_hill.html for more information on Wendell Hill Hall or the grand opening celebration.

Rounding out the week is a dedication ceremony to rename the former Physical Education Building Dorothy Purser Hall. The renaming of the building is to honor former CWU Professor and Coach Dorothy Purser, who began at Central in 1957 and dedicated her career to CWU’s nationally credited paramedic program. The ceremony is Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the building’s lobby. Go to http://www.cwu.edu/~hhpn/paramedics.html for more information on the paramedic program at CWU.

Media Contact: Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of placebound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.