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A "sneak preview" of the Blank Honors Center
Posted November 5, 2003
IOWA CITY -- On Friday, October 17, a small group of contributors, staff, and invited guests were given a "sneak preview" of the new Blank Honors Center, which is nearing completion near the Kate Daum Residence Hall on the UI campus. Attendees gathered not only to tour the new facility, but to pay tribute to Myron "Mike" Blank of Des Moines, who, with his late wife Jackie, made a $5 million commitment to the project. (Read the original press release.) The Blanks, along with the late David and Connie Belin, provided both inspiration and key funding for the Connie Belin - Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, which will be housed in the new building along with the UI Honors Program. Speakers at the event included Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack; UI President David Skorton; Owen Newlin, President of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa; UI Foundation President Michael New; Belin-Blank Center Director Nicolas Colangelo; Honors Program Director Alice Fulton; Belin-Blank Center Advisory Board President Mark McCormick; and Tim Hickman, the project's lead architect, of Herbert Louis Kruse Blunck of Des Moines. Following the speakers' remarks and prior to the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Professor Colangelo unveiled an engraved wall plaque, featuring images of Mike and Jackie Blank along with text commemorating their generosity. The Blank Honors Center is slated for occupancy early next year and will be officially dedicated on July 2, 2004. Following are images from the October 17 ceremony:   Tom Belin, the son of the late David and Connie Belin and the chair of the Center's advisory board, listens to remarks with Mike Blank.  Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack with Nicholas Colangelo, the Belin-Blank Center's director and Myron & Jacqueline Blank Professor of Gifted Education.  Three generations of the Belin family were in attendance -- Laurie Belin (left) holds her son, David, while posing with her stepmother, Barbara Ross Belin, a member of the Center's advisory board.  Governor Tom and Christy Vilsack (center) chat with Nancy Evans (left), a member of the Center's advisory board, and UI President David Skorton (right).  Michael Gartner and Susan Assouline, the Center's associate director.  Mike Blank and Ansel Chapman.  Catherine Blando, the Center's Administrator for Curriculum Development, chats with UI Foundation President Michael New and Sandy Fein, who serves on the Center's advisory board.  Mike Blank (center) poses with Shirley and Darrell Wyrick. Darrell is president emeritus of the UI Foundation.  UI Foundation President Michael New (at podium) introduces Mike Blank (standing) to the assembled guests.  Mike Blank gleefully performs his ribbon-cutting duty. At his side are Belin-Blank Center Director Nicolas Colangelo; Owen Newlin, President of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa; and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.  Helen "Sis" Stein, the late Jackie Blank's sister, and Arthur Stein pose in front of the dedication plaque that depicts Jackie and Mike Blank.  Enjoying the ceremony are Belin-Blank Center support staffers Bridget Pauley, Lori Hudson, Pam Bullers, Frances Blum, and Rachelle Hansen. The construction of the Blank Honors Center is part of the UI's $850 million comprehensive campaign, which will run through 2005 and is being conducted under the guidance of the UI Foundation. Named Good. Better. Best. Iowa: The Campaign to Advance Our Great University, the seven-year effort is raising private funds to help launch a variety of initiatives across the University, substantially increase the number of UI scholarships and endowed faculty positions, support new educational and research facilities, build the UI's endowment and fund outreach and service programs to benefit Iowans. The UI Foundation is acknowledged by the UI as a preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the Good. Better. Best. Iowa campaign, visit its web site at www.GoodBetterBestIowa.org. Contact Information
Andrew Sheehy Additional information about ways to support the UI College of Education also is available on this site. |