139113 SRU Mag Back NEW - Slippery Rock University

A New Presence
Donors and business
leaders celebrate SRU’s
leadership
You have read about the plans for
the Regional Learning Alliance in
previous issues of The Rock
Magazine. You have seen construction
updates, too. You may have even visited
www.RegionalLearningAlliance.com and
seen the video virtual tour.
On these pages you see the reality of a
new model for workforce development.
Slippery Rock University is the model
builder.
To celebrate this accomplishment,
regional business leaders and Rock Society
Members ($1000-per-year donors to
SRU) gathered for an inaugural gala to
congratulate President Smith, the driving
force behind this accomplishment.
The elegant food service was prepared by AVI, Inc., the food service contractor for SRU and for the RLA.
MSA executive, state
system chancellor,
praise concept
In remarks at the evening celebration,
Dennis Zeitler, chief financial officer of
Mine Safety Appliances and board chair
for the RLA, said that the “Regional
Learning Alliance is a model for bringing
free enterprise to higher education.”
MSA donated the land in its Cranberry
Woods Corporate Office Park for the construction
of the modern, high-tech, education
and conference center. It is located in
the fastest growing area of western
Pennsylvania.
Alan Offstein, chair of the Slippery Rock Foundation, Inc.
welcomes dignitaries.
President Smith describes the importance of the RLA
project.
Guests review a special edition newsletter of photos from the afternoon’s presidential inauguration ceremony.
10 The Rock Winter 2005