2007 Founder’s Day and Topping Off Ceremony
|
Founder's Day & Topping-Off Ceremony Video Gallery |
Several hundred members of the community gathered on December 12, 2007 to celebrate the sixth anniversary of our 2001 incorporation. Known as Founder’s Day, the December 12th date represents the official founding of the University.
Beyond our annual recognition of Founder’s Day, however, the 2007 event carried with it additional distinction as a who’s who of the region’s corporate and philanthropic leaders gathered with the faculty and staff to celebrate “the successes of the journey.”
The University has accomplished a great deal on all fronts since it marked this important anniversary in 2006. However, none of the university’s forward momentum had been more consuming and publicly evident in the past year than the construction of the new academic center.
The community gathered to lay to rest the final steel beam for the tremendous $73-million Academic Center structure being swiftly erected at 326 Market Street.
The journey that has led us to this point has not been without challenges. And for some time there have been far more naysayers than supporters. All the while though, a collection of concerned and dedicated citizens committed their resources, their reputations, and in fact themselves at every turn and that group stayed the course.
Some fifty remarkable individuals who have contributed their time, talents, and treasures to the University signed the final steel beam during the Founder’s Day and Topping-Off Celebration.
This beam was specially painted in “HU colors” and permanently resides as part of the 16th floor structure. It was not covered with fire proofing. Therefore, this specially-prepared beam will be exposed and the signatures adorning it visible for all time. The final steel beam for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s 16-story Academic Center was hoisted into place on January 10, 2008.