1111 111 11 111111111111111111111\\\\\\\\\ Students in the College of Education were greeted with a new education building when they returned from summer break. The Wilma Stephen's Thormon Education Center was officially dedicated Sepe. 28. The new 27,408-square-foor, three-story educ.'1rion building connected to the W R. Coe American Studies Building through walkways, and improved llpon and added onto the existing education programs, according to the public relations office. The new faCilides induded the Smart Step Literacy Lab, the school– counseling program, distance-learning labs, the Education Resource Center, the Center for Math and Science Education, non-traditional licensure programs, graduate and undergraduate programs and the Diagnostic Reading Clinic. Senior Michael Harvey, a mid-level math and science major, said he really enjoyed the center's new education resource center. "1 am very impressed by the new resource center," H arvey said. "111ere's a lor more there; computers, die curs, paper, copy machines. It's just a good place to go and study and find materials for classes." Karen Horton, director of the Education Resource Center, said the new space allowed studenrs to complete their projectS more ef– ficiently. "What 1especially like about the new Facility is the space," Horton said. "[There is] lots of space that students have to complete their projects." Harveysaid he liked the new education center because it allowed edu– cation majors to have their own building like many other majors. Wilma Ilephens Thornton, retired leocher, addresses the crowd at the dedication of the new Wilma Stephens Thornton Education Center Sept. 28. The building included a Smart Step Literacy Lab, a resource center, the Center for Math and Science EducatiOn and the Diagnostic Reading Clinic. ·Chelsea Roberson "It is nice to have the newer classrooms and not have to be in the American Studies," H arvey said. "It's nice to be separated from everything else. Finally, now, we don't have to share with the English department." Ground broke for the new education center July 27, 2004. The center took about one year to build. The cencer is named after Wilma Stephens Thornton, a retired teacher. Thornton taught for 41 years and dedicated her life to teach– ing her students at Sheridan H igh School and in smaller schools around Arkansas. Thorman began her career in 1926at the age of 16.She attended night and summerdasses part time for 22 years until she received her bachelor's degree in education from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway in 1949. "I became a teacher for several reasons," Thornton said. "There . was a great need, and there were no other jobs for women to do in small communides." Dr. Tony Finley, dean of the College ofEducation, said Thornton captured the spirit and love of teaching because of her life commit– ment to teaching and learning. At the groWld breaking ceremony, Thornton told a crowd ofapproxi– mately 500 of the importance ofHarding's education program. "This university produces good teadlers," 111Ornton said. "And that is what we need, good teachers." ·(ynthiaNoah (The 8i",n and Public Relationscontnbuled to this SIOry) college of education it* .
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