Warner Pacific College dedicates new student center

Here’s the story behind the summer-long scurry of construction activity on SE Division Street at SE 68th Avenue …

This auspicious group, ready to dedicate the newly-reconstructed Egtvedt Hall at Warner Pacific (WP) College, are: WP alum and Church of God pastor John Parker; Bill Jones, VP with Bank of the West; Steve Stenberg, WP Director of Facilities and Planning; Conner Peckham, Student Body President; Jim Teague, Chair, Board of Trustees and an alumnus; Andrea Cook, interim WP President; Jay Barber, President Emeritus; Wayne Peterson, WP’s CFO; Frank Harris, who is with contractor SD Deacon; Skip Spanaway, from SRD Partnership, architects; and, Ray Cotton, pastor of New Hope Community Church, alumnus and parent of a current student.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
People motoring east or west along SE Division Street have probably noticed a recent flurry of construction activity at SE 68th Avenue – on the campus of Warner Pacific College (WP).

In what Andrea Cook, interim WP president called “amazing work in a very short time,” the school’s Egtvedt Hall underwent a complete renovation. “Groundbreaking for the project was on April 3, and we got our occupancy permit on August 21.”

Although the turnout was light for the dedication ceremony, everyone at the ribbon-cutting ceremony appeared to be ebullient about the project’s successful, rapid, and timely completion.

Warner Pacific’s interim President, Andrea Cook, introduces the speakers at the building’s dedication ceremony.

Speeches accompany ribbon cutting
After introducing distinguished guests standing behind the dedication ribbon, the school’s interim President, Andrea Cook, said, “Now, our students will have a place in which they can feel proud, when they bring their families and friends.”

Jim Teague, an alumnus and the Chair of the school’s board of trustees, told how, in 1976, the impetus behind the construction of the original building was to have a place to host then-President Gerald Ford when he came to speak at their graduation ceremony.

In the foreground, newly renovated Egtvedt Hall stands ready to serve students, faculty, and the community, school officials say.

“That was our motivation then,” Teague told the assemblage. “The motivation [for the improvements] is really all about our students. We felt deeply that we needed a place to really host our community. This includes our students, our faculty, our alumni – and our staff, as well. What you see here, now, is a place that is all about community. Community is what Warner Pacific is all about.”

Representatives of the architects, contractors, and the school each took turns praising the project and offering up dedication prayers. With that, the ribbon was cut and visitors toured the building.

With a snip of the mighty scissors wielded by Cook, Egtvedt Hall is official open.

Will provide a ‘community space’
Greg Moon, the school’s Development Director, told us that Egtvedt Hall now provides the campus with a spacious dining room, a coffee shop, a student center, and a bookstore. “Additionally, faculty, admissions, the registrar, and the business and financial offices occupy the second story of the building.”

“The renovation gives students a place they can relax,” Moon said. “The dining room, coffee shop, and multi-purpose room are open and available for our neighborhood community to use. The building also houses our ‘black box’ theater and music rehearsal studios. We hope you’ll come to our events.”

Learn more about this unique SE Portland educational facility by visiting their web site: CLICK HERE.

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