Monday, January 31, 2005

MEMORANDUM

TO: North Carolina State Media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham

DATE: Jan. 31, 2004

RE: Grand Opening of UNCW’s Education Building Housing Watson School of Education and Teachers Legacy Hall Reception starts at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10

University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo and Watson School of Education Dean Cathy Barlow cordially invite you to cover the grand opening of the education building which houses the university’s Watson School of Education and the North Carolina Teachers Legacy Hall. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10 on the campus of UNCW.

The $16.7 million Education Building is an 80,500-square-foot, three-story exceptional space with a sky-lit atrium. It houses UNCW’s Watson School of Education and Regional Educational Resource Center. An adjoining courtyard is integrated into the overall design. The building contains 10 classrooms, three seminar rooms, four computer labs and the school’s administrative, program and academic offices. Opened to students in the fall of 2004, it was the first UNCW building funded by the 2000 bond issue for higher education to be completed.

In the school’s atrium, the North Carolina Teachers Legacy Hall honors education and educators in a unique tribute to public school teachers in our state that will serve as a point of pride for North Carolina. Future North Carolina Teachers of the Year and Principals of the Year will be recognized annually inside the North Carolina Teachers Legacy Hall, which was funded by private donations.

Prospective and current education students can draw inspiration and encouragement by visiting and experiencing this compelling exhibition hall, the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina and quite possibly the first of its kind in the nation. Dynamic, museum-quality displays highlight examples of excellence in the teaching profession. Nine niches will feature teaching tools, a one-room school house, school bus, awards, teachers/principals of the year, historical timeline/current events, school desks and films that teach. One niche will be reserved for donors, with shelved books noting donor names.

The Watson School of Education, in its 41st year, is the third largest producer of teachers out of 46 institutions in North Carolina. It offers 34 degree programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, as well as non-degree licensure-only programs for students with undergraduate degrees to become certified to teach.

Special guests expected to attend the grand opening are members of the UNC Board of Governors, UNC President Molly Corbett Broad and the UNCW Board of Trustees.