A first-ever kind of partnership creates a brand new space for Tallahassee Community College’s growing class of honor students. That space officially opened yesterday.
The lobby of the TCC Fine and Performing Arts Center was packed with college officials and supporters. School Vice President for Resource Development and Foundation Director Heather Mitchell kicked off the occasion.
“I’m excited for a number of different reasons,” she told the crowd, gathered in the lobby outside Turner Auditorium. “But the #1 reason I’m excited today is you’re going to get to see the fruits of a first-time collaboration on TCC’s campus.”
That collaboration resulted in a major makeover for what had been described as a “ratty, un-glorified storage area” off a seldom-used hallway on the building’s ground floor. Now, that space has been reborn as a lounge for the college’s nearly one-hundred-fifty honors students to enjoy. TCC President Jim Murdaugh said the title “lounge” is appropriate.
“It’s a lounge in the sense that this is a retreat for our students to escape to; to get away from the grind and everyday hustle and bustle of the campus, to retreat here, relax, be comfortable, be creative.”
The lounge has lots of comfortable chairs and sofas, along with a fully-equipped kitchenette and covered outdoor patio. But there are also plenty of computers and even a small classroom area complete with smartboard and other hi-tech tools. Honors student Hanna Cake liked the room.
“I’m really excited to use it. It looks like a really cool facility.”
A verdict echoed by her honors colleague Patricia Singletary.
“This seems much more personalized with other honors students who take summer classes, so this seems easier to really connect with people and study and such.”
And that chance to work and relax with other honors students likewise appealed to Sidney Selman.
“To have other people attending the same classes and having the same goals it’s a lot easier to be with these students and learn with them and talk to them and we all have the same interests and the same skills in mind so I think it’s great to find we have a place of our own to further our education.”
The space is officially named after the couple who made it a reality. It’s called “The Pankowski Honors Lounge“ after major benefactors Mary Pankowski and her husband Joe. The Pankowski kids attended TCC and Mary served on the foundation board for many years, as well as having a scholarship named in her honor. Tuesday was the first time she’d seen the room that carries her family name.
“This is absolutely in keeping with the academic and professional reputation of Tallahassee Community College as the most affordable and best opportunity in Tallahassee and way beyond,” she marveled.
That educational opportunity stays affordable, said TCC Vice President Heather Mitchell, because donations like those of the Pankowskis and other supporters make up for what tuition doesn’t cover.
“Philanthropy is what bridges that gap and that’s where the Foundation, and most specifically the President’s Circle for Tallahassee Community College can make that margin of excellence – can make that gap happen in such a way that it shrinks – it’s not there any longer. And so this is a fantastic example of leveraging the President’s Circle with a private donor to make sure that it happens.”
And, with an ever-growing number of top-performing students now choosing schools like TCC, the need for more community support for community colleges is only likely to increase.
