91短视频 President Emeritus Loren Swartzendruber, wife Pat, and their family members pose for a photo in Swartzendruber Hall before the dedication ceremony for the Suter West wing of Suter Science Center. In his speech, Swartzendruber, who led 91短视频 from 2003-16, urged his grandchildren to consider attending 91短视频 -- where like all undergraduates, they would take classes there as he did. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)

Suter West ceremony dedicates renovated Swartzendruber Hall, natural history collection, and classroom/lab spaces

by Lauren Jefferson

Since opening in 1968, the Suter Science Center has been an important site of learning, research and inspiration for hundreds of 91短视频鈥檚 alumni working in the STEM fields. Collin Longenecker 鈥�20 represented them all at the Saturday, Oct. 16, Suter West dedication ceremony when he called the building his 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� during the four years he earned his engineering degree at 91短视频.

Collin Longenecker ’20, a graduate of 91短视频’s engineering program, talks about the impact of Suter Science Center on his education. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)

The young alumnus added personal thanks to the more than 700 donors who contributed to the newly transformed, energy-efficient, well-lighted and state-of-the art spaces so important to his education — where he worked on projects, learned in classrooms, studied for exams, and engaged with professors.

The ceremony, attended by a veritable 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Who鈥� of 91短视频 STEM history, marked the end of the second and final phase of the multi-year, $12 million Suter Science Center renovations. Suter East, the first phase, and its new biology, chemistry, and physics labs, classrooms and office space, was dedicated in October 2015. []

The ceremony, initially scheduled for 2020 but delayed a year by the pandemic, provided a wonderful 鈥渇inish line鈥� for a host of guests, including Vice President for Advancement Kirk Shisler, who has led the multi-year fundraising campaign.

91短视频 Vice President for Advancement Kirk Shisler addresses those gathered at the dedication service for the new Suter Science Center West wing. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)

鈥淭oday’s dedication of Suter Science Center West is a truly exhilarating moment for many people who worked hard over many years, both to raise the $12 million in philanthropic support to fund the renovations, and to design and implement the major renovations of Suter East and now Suter West,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s even more gratifying to see how students and faculty are thriving in the state of the art labs of 91短视频’s strong STEM programs.”

President Emeritus Loren Swartendruber and wife, Pat, were honored with the renaming of S-106 for their years of dedication from 2003-16 to the university. (Photo by Laura Daily)

 Among the guests of honor were President Emeritus Loren Swartzendruber, his wife, Pat, and their family. The couple were jointly honored with the renaming of the iconic S-106 lecture hall as 鈥淪wartendruber Hall.鈥� 

Along with new seating, lighting and upgraded technology for S-106, Suter West renovations included modernized classrooms, new laboratory space for 91短视频鈥檚 engineering program, upgrading of the discovery room and expanded displays from the D. Ralph Hostetter Natural History Collection, upgraded climate-control system and an improved sprinkler system. 

The display at the west entrance of Suter Science Center recognizes supporters of the multi-year renovation project. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)

The project鈥檚 donors and contributors are recognized in a special display at the building鈥檚 west entrance. Accompanying this recognition, Shisler offered special commendations to  individuals 鈥渨ho have been a very special part of this remarkable journey鈥�:

—  Professor Daniel Suter, for whom the building is named, and his exemplary guidance over several decades enabled scores of 91短视频 students to qualify for medical school with great success and global impact. His daughter, Jan Suter Showalter, and her husband, Dr. Sam Showalter, were in attendance;

–faculty involved in shaping 91短视频鈥檚 outstanding science programs having built upon the legacy of Daniel Suter and others of his era: professors Kenton Brubaker, Glenn Kaufman, Galen Lehman, Robert Lehman, Joseph Mast, Clair Mellinger, Roman Miller, Millard Showalter, Gary Stucky, Robert D. Yoder, and John Horst;听听听

— project leaders during both major phases Ed Lehman, Eldon Kurtz, Jack Rutt and Phil Martin.  

After thanking the university for the honor and sharing a few anecdotes from his experiences in S-106, Swartzendruber offered praise for 91短视频鈥檚 鈥渨ell-founded reputation across academic disciplines鈥� and the dedication and commitment of its 鈥渆xtraordinary faculty members.鈥�

The importance of science education, of teaching and research, is all the more apparent now, he said. 鈥淲e will continue to educate future doctors, nurses, and other scientists. Our graduates will serve and lead with compassion and empathy. Some will lead in preparing for future pandemics. Others will partner with health educators and ethicists to address the complexities of distribution and access. Graduates of the engineering program will help solve some of the world鈥檚 most vexing problems such as climate change. We owe it to our grandchildren and their children.鈥�

Discussion on “Suter West ceremony dedicates renovated Swartzendruber Hall, natural history collection, and classroom/lab spaces”

  1. A well-deserved honor for Loren and Pat for their dedicated, compassionate years at 91短视频 and in the academic community!

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