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by Alex Leon, Office of
Communication, Marketing, and Foundation
A dream becomes reality on
Friday May 31 when the groundbreaking for the Cimmarusti Science Center
takes place on the construction site next to the physics and biology
building. The ceremony kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a welcome by
President John Davitt and the introduction of several dignitaries.
The seeds
were planted for the science center and refurbishment of the physics and
biology building, which has already started, in 1998 when James Rogan,
then the Congressman from the 27th district,
requested $2 million in federal funding for a NASA/JPL science
education center to be located on the college campus. Former
President Bill Clinton signed appropriation legislation on
October 21, 1998.
Brothers
and local businessmen Larry and Ralph Cimmarusti presented an additional
gift to the school on March 4, 1999. Since then, the Foundation has
spearheaded a drive to raise funds for the science center and has raised
almost $2 million in private donations.
Many of
those donations of over $10,000 were for naming opportunities for
classrooms, labs and lecture halls. The college faculty and staff
participated in an ongoing tile project that will
bear donors' names on tile design in the science center to show
that they supported the project. Among the dignitaries scheduled to
attend the ground-breaking are Congressman Adam Schiff and Assemblyman
Dario Frommer, who will speak about the goals of the center and teacher
training as well as K-12 student involvement and the community.
Glendale
Mayor Rafi Manoukian will comment on the contributions of the science
center to the community and Foundation President Paul P. Locker will
recognize donors including former Foundation President Jack Quinn, who
will talk about why he decided to become a donor for the science center.
Glendale
Unified School District Superintendent Jim Brown will talk about teacher
training and student visits to the center and Dr. Charles Elachi,
Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada will comment on
coordinated programs with JPL, fiber optic connections to JPL and how
the science center will influence young people to choose careers in
science.
All college
faculty and staff are invited to attend the groundbreaking, and anyone
who would like to make a donation to the science center tile project
should call the Foundation
Office at x5199. &
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