Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State dedicates its newest residence hall community Friday [Sept. 5] in honor of president emeritus Donald W. Zacharias.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the ceremony formally opening the Zacharias Village will take place in the lobby of Ruby Hall, one of four student residences comprising the village.
Zacharias, who continues to reside in Starkville, led the university 1985-97, the second-longest tenure in the land-grant institution's 130-year history. Enrollment soared, growing from 12,000 to more than 15,600, and research and technology contracts more than doubled during his 12 years of leadership.
In addition, the Zacharias years on campus included:
--Creation of the state's first World Wide Web site;
--First university in the state requiring students to own and use personal computers for class work;
--A five-year Campaign for Mississippi State that raised $143 million in private gifts and commitments;
--Significant growth in the national visibility and reputation of MSU;
--Major capital improvements, among them a much-needed expansion of Mitchell Memorial Library and construction of the Joe Frank Sanderson Center, a 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art recreational facility.
Immediately following the Zacharias Village dedication, the university's Division of Student Affairs will hold a 10-year anniversary celebration at the nearby Sanderson Center.
Named for the late MSU alumnus who led the Laurel-based Sanderson Farms company for many years, the facility is home to the department of recreational sports. Its amenities include six courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton; a 500,000-gallon swimming pool; indoor running track; and a variety of other locations for physical activity.
In addition to Ruby Hall, Zacharias Village is made up of the S. Bryce Griffis, Louis A. Hurst and the yet-to-be-named Building III residence halls. The 1,200-bed, state-of-the-art student housing complex is home to the Shackouls Honors College.
For more information on both programs, contact Ann Bailey at 662 325-3555 or annb@saffairs.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.