Celebrating the grand opening of the Student Center

The College of St. Scholastica invites the Saints community to the highly anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Student Center next Tuesday, Sept. 3. This event marks a significant milestone in the College’s history, offering an enhanced campus experience for current and future students.

The reception and program

The festivities will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a community reception held on the quad in front of the Student Center’s main entrance. Attendees will enjoy refreshments and treats while mingling on the beautifully landscaped spaces outside of the building, including the north patio. “This will be a momentous day for our College community,” said Reba Copeland, associate vice president for College Advancement. “We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating this significant addition to our campus.”

At 4:00 p.m., a speaker program featuring a lineup of distinguished guests will commence. The speakers will share their thoughts and visions for the Student Center and its role in enhancing student life. The speakers will include President Dr. Barbara McDonald, St. Scholastica Monastery Prioress Sister Beverly Raway ’67, OSB, Chair of the Board of Trustees Ed Crawford ’78, Duluth Chamber of Commerce President Matt Baumgartner, former Student Trustee Emma Mischke ’25 and Student Government Association President Maddy Ploof ’25. Bishop Daniel Felton of the Duluth Diocese will also provide a blessing of the building. “The program will not only highlight the Student Center’s features but will also underline our commitment to creating a vibrant campus community,” Copeland added.

The official opening of the Student Center

Following the speeches, the ceremonial ribbon will be cut, marking the official opening of the Student Center. Attendees will be invited inside for self-guided tours of the building, which will allow them to explore the named rooms and get acquainted with the new spaces. Programs will be available to guide guests through the various facilities.

The Student Center is part of the capital campaign, A Second Century of Saints: Believe. Belong. Transform., which was successfully completed in 2023. First conceived in the Master Plan of 2023, a designated space for students to gather was identified as a need on the Duluth main campus. During the campaign, donors showed a tremendous deal of support for this specific project. As a result, the Student Center will be opened as a gift to the students of the College with 100% of project costs covered without taking on debt.

“So much effort and dedication has gone into making this day possible,” explained Copeland. “We are thrilled to open the doors of the Student Center as an opportunity to come together as a community and witness a new chapter in the history of The College of St. Scholastica.”