WCU holds groundbreaking ceremony for Women's Residence Hall | News

The following is a press release from William Carey University:

William Carey University officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new women’s residence hall on the Hattiesburg campus on October 17. The residence hall, which will be located directly behind Byrd Hall on the south end of campus, will accommodate 96 women residents double occupancy or in 49 private rooms to relieve the school’s housing crunch. The dorm is scheduled to be completed before the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year.

Dr. Tommy King, president of WCU, called the residence hall “an important step in the growth of William Carey University.” He said, “perhaps the greatest announcement I can make is that we have the money in the bank to pay for it.”

The building will cost $4.5 million and the funds came from support by the Mississippi Baptist Convention, private donors and careful management of existing funds.

During the ceremony, Hannah Brown, a senior from Columbus and Baptist Student Union president, gave the prayer of thanksgiving. Courtney Daley, a senior from Carson and student foundation treasurer, followed with a student testimony about the benefits of living on campus. A group of students, administrators, a trustee, the architect, and the contractor then joined Dr. King in the turning of the shovels to official break ground where the new dorms will be located. The ceremony concluded with a prayer of dedication by Dr. Hugh Dickens, chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

PHOTO: (left to right) Bob Blevins, director of facilities, grounds, and maintenance at William Carey University, Patrick Earley, a senior from Raceland, La., and president of Student Government Association (SGA), Danza Thomason, a junior from West Point, Brenda Waldrip, assistant professor of education and vice president of student services, Valerie Bridgeforth, administrative director of housing, Kevin Lewis, architect with Landry and Lewis Architects, Sean Sumrall, contractor with Larry J. Sumrall Contractors, Dr. Hugh Dickens, chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, and Dr. Tommy King, president of WCU, turn the shovels during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new women’s residence hall at WCU on October 17.