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In the News
GANNON ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR WEST SIXTH STREET
HOUSES 1 A partnership with Thomas B. Hagen and the Historic Preservation Trust will transform three 19th and early 20th century houses in Erie’s West Sixth Street historic district. Restoration efforts will begin this year to transform these houses into a student apartment, an alumni house complete with offices and community spaces, as well as a bed & breakfast-style campus residence. The project is part of Gannon’s master plan to enhance the campus landscape while creating a string of stunning, historically significant buildings in Erie.
CHICK-FIL-A OPENS ON CAMPUS 2 Gannon University and Metz Culinary Management announced the official opening of Chick-fil-A on the university’s Erie campus on Jan. 18. The new Chick-fil-A enhances the variety of dining options on campus, which include a traditional dining hall, grab-and-go as well as made-to-order locations and university-owned restaurant and café. Chick-fil-A is Gannon’s first national chain restaurant on campus and offers public sit-down and take-out services.
SOUTH HALL CONSTRUCTION ON TRACK FOR SUMMER
COMPLETION 3 Gannon’s newest residence hall – South Hall – is being outfitted with apartment-style living and modern amenities. The four-story hall will accommodate about 100 students of the university’s growing enrollment while aiding the revitalization of downtown Erie by giving life to an older structure. Construction of South Hall, which formerly was the RCWE building, is expected to be complete in summer of 2022.
RUSKIN ACADEMIC BUILDING’S THIRD-FLOOR BUILD-OUT
CONTINUES 4 This floor will house classrooms, laboratories, a simulation center for clinical skill development, the Gannon Learning Commons with group and individual spaces and a green screen studio, as well as interfaith and meditation spaces, a café, lecture hall and gathering space. The university will finish building out this floor in summer of 2022. Gannon dedicated the first two floors of this 83,000-square-foot facility in August 2019 to provide a learning environment for future health care professionals. GANNON OFFERS NEW PROGRAMS 5 The university launched a bachelor’s degree in applied intelligence to prepare students for positions in security-related career fields that involve analysis, research, evaluation and planning of intelligence and policy matters. A new graduate certificate in anti-money laundering provides the essential knowledge and capabilities for working professionals and non-working individuals who want to develop themselves with the expertise in the AML professional field.
I-HACK’S INSPIRATION PLAZA SEES FIRST PHASE OF
SCULPTURE INSTALLATION 6 The new sculpture was created by local artists Tom Ferraro and Ed Grout and made possible through the generosity of Deacon Marty Eisert ’85, ’89 and Kathy Eisert. The piece is supported by steel frames manufactured by Industrial Sales and Manufacturing, which is owned by Jim Rutkowski Jr. ’83. The sculpture sits on a base constructed by Building Systems Inc., which also installed the sculpture. Gannon is proud to work with local artists, businesses and alumni to bring art to the community. CHESS SPEAKER SERIES CONTINUED 7 Gannon’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences continued its 2021-22 CHESS Speaker Series, Reinventing Right Now. This year-long series focused on artistic expression, exploration of our varied heritages, and emphasis on the self and connections with one another as we find healing amid recent unprecedented events. A key event of this series included the Multicultural Dance Night on March 11 that brought students together to celebrate the rhythm of different steps from around the world while showcasing the universal connections of creativity in humanity.
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Renderings of the Highmark Events Center. An expected $10 million in renovations will transform the facility’s exterior façade and interior spaces including the lobby area and locker rooms (pictured L-R).
The home of the Gannon Golden Knights has a new name: the Highmark Events Center. Gannon Athletics Director Lisa Goddard-McGuirk called it a “day of great magnitude and a time for celebration” as the university announced a ten-year agreement with Highmark Health that will transform the former Hammermill Center into a state-of-the-art facility and propel Gannon Athletics to the next level. Here are five things to know about the Highmark Events Center. BUILDING WINNING MOMENTUM ON A
1IT’S TAKING THE GANNON STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE TO NEW HEIGHTS. Gannon is strengthening its commitment to the student-athlete experience by modernizing the athletics facility with an expected $10 million in investments.
“The Highmark Events Center will give our athletes the latest and most up-to-date facilities, equipment and technology they need to continue to perform at an elite level,” said Kelvin
Jefferson, head men’s basketball coach.
Renovations to the facility will create attractive and visible spaces for intercollegiate athletic practices and games. Plans include enhancing the Gary Miller Court to become a pride point for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, acrobatics and tumbling, competitive cheer and competitive dance programs. Home and visiting teams will also enjoy fully renovated men’s and women’s locker rooms. Sophomore volleyball player Madelyn Blake said she is most excited about the new stands. “We have such loyal fans and families that I think them getting to benefit from the new facility is their piece of joy that we get to share with them. I think I can speak for all the athletes on how truly thankful we are for the Highmark Center,” she said. These renovations, Goddard-McGuirk said, will also mirror the prominence of Gannon’s athletic teams and their commitment to excellence. This season alone, women’s volleyball advanced to the NCAA Final Four, and women’s basketball, men’s wrestling, women’s wrestling, and acrobatics and tumbling are or were ranked in the top 25 nationally.
“We will strive to capture and preserve the rich history that exudes within (the Highmark Center) while simultaneously elevating every aspect of the facility to best meet the needs of our student-athletes, coaches and fans,” she said. “Teams that will compete in the Highmark Center consistently have a presence on the national stage.”
2IT WILL CREATE VISIBLE CHANGE TO THE DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE. Together, Gannon University and
Highmark will create another visible change to the downtown landscape and Perry Square.
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The Gannon athletic complex has been the front porch of the university’s Erie campus for 70 years, drawing crowds of up to 2,800 people for sporting events and games, lectures, concerts, camps and other programs – all of which bring people downtown and support our regional small business economy. The center will also host community events and public lectures that feature local and global speakers, as well as signature academic events. “Gannon and Highmark have been working together to improve our 5 city, our schools, our downtown and our region on several initiatives,” said Gannon President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. “We are excited to expand our partnership as we work toward transforming the lives of those we serve and focus on our responsibility to improve the world around us.” “We are very excited to enter this partnership with Gannon University to advance and elevate what is truly a hub of athletic activity and a landmark in our downtown area,” said Jim Teed, vice president of Regional Markets, Highmark Inc. IT IS A RECRUITING JEWEL FOR GANNON ATHLETICS. The Highmark Center will provide Gannon with a tremendous recruiting advantage when competing for the best student-athletes in the country. This academic year, Gannon welcomed the largest enrollment in its history with more than 4,700 students, including about 700 NCAA Division II athletes. The Highmark Center will further this trajectory toward recruitment successes. “The facility will communicate that Gannon Athletics is a priority for the university and that the student-athlete experience is high on the list for our administration and community,” said Cleve Wright, head women’s basketball coach. “I anticipate this facility helping us to compete for high-level recruits all over the country and out of the country.” IT REPRESENTS A MILESTONE IN GANNON’S NEXT CENTURY CAMPAIGN. This project is a signature of the university’s Believe. Inspire. Transform. Gannon’s Next Century campaign, adding to rapid progress toward the $100 million goal. Gannon has raised $5.5 million toward the project and nearly $65 million toward the campaign goal. By Brianna Mariotti, content marketing strategist
BUILDING WINNING MOMENTUM
IT BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THE FORMER HAMMERMILL CENTER. Gannon’s athletic complex has been the home for Golden Knight teams since the basketball programs began to play there during the 1949-50 season. The facility was originally known as the Gannon Auditorium and affectionately referred to as “The Audi” by longtime Gannon faithful. The facility was rededicated and renamed the Hammermill Center – “The Mill” – in February of 1983 in honor of the generosity of the then Hammermill Paper Co. The university celebrated the official renaming of the Highmark Events Center in February 2022.
(L-R) Christopher Clark, DO, president of AHN Saint Vincent; Lisa Goddard-McGuirk, director of Athletics; Keith Taylor, Ph.D., president of Gannon; Jim Teed, vice president of Regional Markets, Highmark Inc.; and Barbara Beuscher, CFRE, vice president for university advancement, celebrate the naming of the Highmark Events Center. We’ve embarked on a bold $100 million comprehensive fundraising campaign in pursuit of our mission to believe in, inspire and transform our students to live lives of impact around the globe. Goals of this campaign will lead to incredible outcomes in the areas of academic excellence, student experience, the Gannon Fund and campus enhancements. Ultimately, Gannon’s next century campaign will provide the resources we need to continue fully living out our mission of transforming students’ lives through high-quality, affordable academic experiences.
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