Daytona State College's New Student Center Named After Long-Time Benefactor

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Daytona Beach, FL - Daytona State College's new 84,000 square-foot student center, which is under construction, is now named for former DSC trustee and long-time benefactor, L. Gale Lemerand. Yesterday, DSC recognized Lemerand at a ceremony for his long-time support of the college. He has donated more than $3 million to DSC over the years, including a recent $2 million donation to the Daytona State College Foundation. The college calls him "the most generous living benefactor." "We come together to honor a man who has been a champion of higher education, not only at Daytona State College, but throughout the state of Florida,” DSC President Tom LoBasso said yesterday. “The entire college community is deeply proud and honored to name this new student center for Mr. Gale Lemerand, whose longtime support of Daytona State already is leaving a legacy that will live on for generations and continue to serve countless students.”

The new L. Gale Lemerand Student Center will house a library and writing center, state-of-the-art classrooms, conference rooms and a large events center. The Career Services Center will also relocate to the building. The center is expected to be completed next spring. University administrators say the new student center will be designed to focus on teaching and learning in the 21st Century. “This will be a place where students can socialize and interact with their peers, faculty and college staff, and access the resources and guidance they need to stay on track,” says District Board of Trustees Chair Forough Hosseini. “We know that students who are engaged in college life are more likely to achieve academic success and complete their degrees. This facility is being built with this in mind.” DSC says that thanks to benefactors like Lemerand, the college can continue projects like the student center and can have more leverage for funding requests to the State Legislature. “It is the generosity of people like Gale Lemerand that helps our lawmakers take notice when we make our funding requests. Knowing that our community’s leaders are serious about being partners in education, helping us achieve the kind of excellence in teaching and learning that our students expect goes a long way in Tallahassee,” Hosseini adds. Photos of Lemerand and the student center courtesy DSC.