A weekend of events Sept. 26 and 27 will mark the opening of the permanent campus for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, Tacoma.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT will begin the academic year in its new facilities Monday, Sept. 29. It will serve a population of 1,230 students in three major academic structures comprising 133,000 square feet. The campus is located in the historic Union Depot/Warehouse District of Tacoma, bounded by South 21st St., Tacoma Ave., South 17th St., and Pacific Ave.
Approximately 500 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT supporters are expected to attend a black-tie event Friday evening, Sept. 26. Elected officials, donors, business leaders and alumni will participate in a progessive dinner which will encourage patrons to mingle through the three campus buildings. Net proceeds from the event will benefit a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT endowed student scholarship fund.
Incoming students will be honored at a formal academic convocation at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 in the Rialto Theater. Featured speaker will be William Richardson, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT liberal studies professor and former Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT acting dean. The convocation will be followed at 11 a.m. by a special campus brunch hosted by the Asssociated Students of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT.
The formal ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the campus will occur at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Featured speakers will include Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Richard McCormick, Tacoma Mayor Brian Ebersole, Gov. Gary Locke, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµT Dean and Vice Provost Vicky Carwein. Puyallup Tribal Chairman Bill Sterud will bless the site.
The ribbon cutting will be followed at 1:15 p.m. by a community celebration and open house. There will be a variety of musical entertainment, food booths, historical walking tours and family-oriented activities. Inside the buildings, each academic and student service program will have displays and information. <!—at end of each paragraph insert
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