Lindenwood - Your Alumni Connection - Fall 2017

NEW LIBRARY GENERATES ‘WOW’ FACTOR LINDENWOOD WILL MATCH GIFTS TO LIONS’ RESERVE FUND Classes have started on Lindenwood University’s campus in St. Charles, but there is a little more buzz in the air this fall. There are many reasons for the excitement, but chief among them is the opening of the 100,000-square-foot Library and Academic Resources Center. While the official LARC grand opening ceremony isn’t until Family Day on September 16, the building has been brimming with activity, said Dean of Library Services Elizabeth MacDonald. For instance, faculty, staff, and students gathered for a Book Brigade on Aug. 24–a ceremonial hand-to-hand, person-to-person transfer of books from old Butler Library to the new LARC. And, donors had the chance to sneak a peek at the facility that evening during a special preview reception. MacDonald said the university’s leadership “left no stone unturned carefully planning the library of the future. “There were the obvious things, like offices, library collection, circulation and reference desks,” MacDonald said. “But it’s the not-so-obvious things that make this space amazing, like programmable high-tech glass, a Help Desk that is combined with the main floor information desk, and a flexible technology infrastructure that will allow spaces to change and update along with the changing needs of our student body.” The front entrance to the building is called the Grove, offering a beautiful two-story atrium and a gathering space for both academic and social purposes. Adjacent to the Grove is a full-service Starbucks. On the third level is a high-tech media lab that includes audio and video editing, as well as access to an 81-seat theater that allows students to display their work to audiences right away. The theater serves as a student lab but can be used for many other purposes, MacDonald said. “We are also very excited about our gaming center,” MacDonald said. “It includes all of the major gaming consoles attached to wall-mounted TV screens. We also have a virtual reality station and a perfect space for collaborating on game design, one of our new degrees.” MacDonald said central to the administration’s planning for the building was student convenience, which led to a “one-stop shop approach for academic support services.” Tyrona was so very close to completing her degree – all she needed was a three-hour class. She had run out of money, and she figured she was out of options. One could imagine her delight when she learned of Lindenwood University’s new Lions’ Reserve Fund, designed specifically to help students like Tyrona complete their degrees. The Lions’ Reserve Fund campaign launched in the summer and has the ability to meet a critical need, providing support for students whose funding has dried up just prior to graduation. Vice President for Development and Alumni Dan Grigg said the fund is a “godsend for people like Tyrona. We’re going to try to help people get across the finish line with the Lions’ Reserve Fund.” Tyrona, by the way, completed her final class toward her degree this summer and is eligible to walk in graduation. Grigg said there are many more deserving students, “but we need help providing a bridge for them to complete their journey and reach their dreams.” Grigg said he hopes to raise $100,000 in the next year to provide a base for the Lions’ Reserve Fund. Lindenwood University President Michael D. Shonrock, Ph.D., has pledged to match every dollar given to the program. Through philanthropic giving and support from donors, the Lions’ Reserve Fund will help Lindenwood students graduate, get into the workforce, and become productive members of society. Please call (636) 949-4903 today or give online at www.lindenwood.edu/reserve. Lindenwood University AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS 3 CAMPUS NEWS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT UPCOMING EVENTS LINDENWOOD SPORTS ALUMNI EVENTS AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES LINDENWOOD Fall 2017 A “book brigade” was held Aug. 24 to transfer the final 50 books from Butler Library to the new building. Dr. Michael Shonorock and library staffer Lisa Young received the books at the end.