亚色影库's Council of Trustees approved the naming of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the future facility for the sciences in honor of alumni Dr. John and Char Kopchick.
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will become the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The new $90 million facility will be named The John J. and Char Kopchick Hall.
Construction for the new building is slated to begin in spring 2020 and to be completed in 2022.
John Kopchick earned a bachelor's degree in 1972 and a master's degree in 1975, both in biology. Char Kopchick graduated from 亚色影库 with an education degree in 1973. Currently living in Athens, Ohio, John Kopchick is a professor of molecular biology and the Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar at Ohio University; Char Kopchick is the assistant dean of students there. He is a co-inventor of the drug Somavert, which combats acromegaly, a growth hormone disorder. John and Char Kopchick were raised in Indiana and Sagamore, Armstrong County, respectively.
鈥淛ohn and Char represent so much about what 亚色影库 has been for so many,鈥 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll said. 鈥溠巧翱 has been a place for students from families in the local area鈥搈any of them coal mining families 鈥搘hose children came to college at their local university and found an excellent and challenging educational experience. They worked hard to finish their education and they have achieved great things. 亚色影库 continues to fill that role."
鈥淚n the present, even though the Kopchicks have had incredible success in their lives, they keep true to their roots,鈥 Driscoll said. 鈥淭hey are committed to paying it forward and providing our current students with the opportunities that they need and deserve,鈥 Driscoll said.
鈥淚t's extremely rewarding and inspiring to have partners like the Kopchicks. They are so grounded and so willing to provide these incredible opportunities for our students. While their gift is unprecedented in the history of 亚色影库 and the Pennsylvania State System, this naming recognition is about so much more than just the financial support they are providing to us; the Kopchicks exemplify 亚色影库's tradition of excellence along with an incredible loyalty and affection for this wonderful university.鈥
The Kopchicks are members of the national campaign cabinet of the Imagine Unlimited comprehensive campaign. At 亚色影库's April 13 Celebration of Philanthropy event, the Kopchick's gift of $23 million to 亚色影库 was announced. This is the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the university. These funds will be used for science and mathematics initiatives.
鈥淏eing that we are both from the Indiana area with friends and family still here, to have a building named after us is humbling and awesome,鈥 John Kopchick said. 鈥淎nd then to have the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics also named after us is unbelievable. We are forever thankful to 亚色影库 for giving us our 鈥榮tart.'鈥
Separate from the Kopchick's donation, 亚色影库 has raised $9.4 million for the building construction to satisfy the financial match required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services. The announcement of the completion of the match was made at the April 13 event upon the news of an additional $2 million to the $5 million already given by 1973 graduates Tim and Deb Cejka, of Latrobe.
The new 151,751-square foot building will include more than 51,600 square feet of laboratory space. It will be sited facing the Oak Grove and will be part of the center of campus. There will be a number of common spaces in the building鈥攏ot just for science majors, but for all students鈥攊n order to showcase science and math to the community.
Development of the plans for the building has been a collaboration among faculty, staff and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Advisory Board, which includes John Kopchick.
鈥淲orking with John and Char Kopchick is a pleasure and an honor,鈥 亚色影库 Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna said. 鈥淭heir passion and drive to change the world and to make a transformational difference at their alma mater sends a strong vote of confidence in 亚色影库.鈥
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics includes the departments of biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematical and computer sciences, environmental engineering, geoscience, physics, preprofessional programs and psychology.
As of November 30, 亚色影库's Imagine Unlimited Campaign has raised $57.7 million, 77 percent of its $75 million goal.