Ceremony at BSU’s Medical Education Center Celebrates MEC Student Lounge Makeover
Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Bluefield State University Medical Education Center (MEC) celebrated a recently completed renovation of the MEC student lounge. A gift from the Paul & Carol Cole Foundation provided funding for the renovations.
Several members of the Cole family, including Tom and Charlie Cole, sons of the late Paul and Carol Cole were on hand at the program, and they brought greetings from their parents’ third son, Bill Cole (who was out of town and couldn’t attend today’s event).
Tom Cole, chairman of the Paul & Carol Cole Foundation, talked about the connection between the Cole family and Bluefield State University. “We’ve been very involved with Bluefield State for some time,” he said. “Certainly, losing the hospital a few years ago was a challenge for our region. The Medical Education Center is a great reincarnation of this facility. Bill, Charlie, and I are proud of what our parents have done in this area and we honor them with projects like this that they would certainly endorse.”
BSU President Robin Capehart observed, “Paul and Carol Cole, as well as the Cole family, are truly ‘first citizens of this community,’ Today’s ceremony gives us the opportunity to thank the Paul & Carol Cole Foundation for their generosity in support of this project. At the same time, we also thank the entire Cole family for the time, wisdom, and resources they’ve invested in this University.”
The renovations include new couches and furniture, large-screen televisions, and amenities throughout the lounge. A wall-mounted bronze plaque greets students as they enter the lounge. It bears the inscription, “This Student Relaxation Area is made possible by a generous Gift from The Paul and Carole Foundation.”
