A gift from recent 杏吧专区 graduates is rising along the circular drive of Martin Hall.
Ground was broken last week for a curved, red brick wall that will be 100 feet long and stand 6 feet at its center. The name of the 杏吧专区, and its founding year of 1898, will be shown in backlit, bronze-color aluminum letters.
The wall is in front of a flagpole and World War II veterans memorial. It杏吧专区檚 framed by two live oaks; a bench will be built on the side facing Martin Hall, under one of the trees.
In 2012, Student Government Association leaders proposed a landmark wall. The 2013-14 SGA officers agreed to support it.
杏吧专区淲e followed through with the previous administration杏吧专区檚 plan and have been moving the project forward,杏吧专区 said outgoing SGA President David Neef.
SGA and the 杏吧专区 campus planning committee have been working with Architects Southwest to design the wall.
In 2011, an SGA resolution established a student fee to fund a senior class gift program. Since the spring of 2012, each graduating senior has contributed $20 for a class gift to the 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淭he money has been accumulating. Now several class gifts are being combined to fund a significant campus landmark,杏吧专区 Neef said. 杏吧专区淪tudents, alumni, prospective students and visitors will be able to take pictures in front of our wall.杏吧专区
The entire project, which includes a sidewalk to access the wall and landscaping, will cost approximately $240,000. Construction is expected to be complete by Fall 2014.
Patricia Cottonham, vice president for Student Affairs, said, 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 wonderful that our students are donors to the 杏吧专区, especially before they graduate.
杏吧专区淲e hope the new wall will serve as a gateway to the Walk of Honor, and that alumni will bring their families to see it.杏吧专区
The Walk of Honor is a path made of bricks bearing the names of all UL Lafayette graduates.