By Matt Youngfrau
LOCH SHELDRAKE — April 20, 2001 – On Wednesday, Sullivan County Community College officials held a press conference to announce the receipt of a record donation for its on-campus dormitory project has been secured.
SCCC President Dr. Mamie Howard Golladay announced that an anonymous donor came forward and gave the college $2 million. It is the largest single donation in the college's 39-year history.
In addition, the donor pledged another $1 million toward the project. However, that million has to be matched, to which the SCCC Foundation has agreed.
The fundraising campaign is called "The Start of Something Great" and is co-chaired by Monticello businesswoman Joyce Salimeno and former trustee/Callicoon businessman Maurice Roche. SCCC Foundation Chair Bob Ernst announced that fundraising had already begun and that they will make the goal.
Representatives of Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Assemblyman Jake Gunther, the Sullivan County Legislature, and local community leaders attended the event. All were excited by the announcement. But none more so, of course, than college personnel themselves.
"The dorms will help the college move into its fullest potential," Golladay stated at the press conference. "We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the entire community."
"The residents of Sullivan County have supported their college for nearly four decades of continued growth," SCCC board member and Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III stated in his remarks, "but, today, through the generosity of a special person, Sullivan County Community College can hopefully reach new heights by embracing those students who need affordable housing."
The project consists of two four-story buildings. The dorms will be able to house 320 freshmen, who will be required to stay at the housing in the first year. The prices will be comparable to what private dorm owners are getting now (between $1,600 and $1,800 a semester). There will be no cooking in the dorms, but meal plans will be provided. SCCC Vice-President of Administrative Services Elizabeth Kubenik stated it would be a "typical dorm."
The project is estimated to cost $12 million, but only $8 million is now needing to be bonded, thanks to the donation. Construction will begin as soon as possible, and the dorms are expected to be ready for students to move into for the Fall 2002 semester.