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Remarks by Dr. Maryly Vanleer Peck at Dedication of Curtis Peterson Academic Center

January 23, 1988 - Lakeland, Florida

Today we officially open and dedicate this beautiful new academic center in Lakeland. It is a wonderful occasion for all of us in Polk County. In doing this we are honoring Senator Curtis Peterson who has done much to make our dream come true. It has been a long eight years to bring us to this day, and we can all truly rejoice in it.

Becoming a partner with the University of South Florida in this venture is exciting for Polk Community College and for all of us in this county. It means public higher education will be provided through the masters degree level for the first time in Polk County at this location. It is not mere happenstance that more PCC graduates go to USF. We appreciate that the presence of a research university is very important for this county's economic future development so we are pleased to be sharing this beautiful first phase with USF.

There has been wonderful cooperation between USF and PCC under Dr. John Lott Brown's administration, and it is fitting that you re here, Jack, for us to dedicate this center together. The co-chairs of the Planning Committee and now responsible administrators for this facility, Dr. Dan Costello and Dr. Yvonne Ralston, have done an excellent job with much help from our staffs to get our center ready for students.

It is appropriate to recognize not only Senator Peterson but all who have helped along the way. There have been many, and I would like to mention only a few.

In 1978 the District Board of Trustees of Polk Community College purchased this site for a Lakeland campus. The foresight of the Board and of my predecessor, Dr. Fred T. Lenfestey, to see the need to provide a permanent Lakeland campus started us on the way. It was also a happy coincidence that the site was a working orange grove that produced a nice income for the College while we were planning ahead. We have been fortunate to have had Fred lay a firm foundation at PCC and to have trustees who work for the best of the college. I am delighted that Fred and our trustees, both past and present, are here to share this day of accomplishment.

It is fitting for Dr. John Stewart to be an integral part of this occasion for his leadership ahs made the Polk County schools and Polk Community College true Partners for Excellence that serve the best interest of all of our citizens. I cannot thank John enough for all he has done to make our many joint ventures successful. You continue to serve our schools and our people well, John. This building would not be open for students today if the School board had not agreed to our joint venturing in the upgrading of the Traviss' packaging plant to handle the waste from this site. There are really three partners here today, and we have education on all levels working together for the best interest of our students. You will never know how grateful both John and I are to the Polk County Commission for agreeing to operate that plant so we can concentrate on our primary job which is education!

I want to express my appreciation to Straughn Furr for designing a second beautiful campus for us. It is beautiful and functional, and I invite all of you to tour the center. We do want to show it off. Thanks also to Batson-Cook and the other contractors and subcontractors and most of all to the many PCC personnel who worked over the holidays to bring this job in on time and make an excellent prognosticator out of me. It was a delight to begin classes on January 6, 1988 as I predicted we would five years ago. Currently PCC has 1559 students taking classes here at Lakeland, and this has greatly contributed to PCC's 12% increase in enrollment.

From the beginning, our honoree, Senator Peterson, understood the importance of our joint venture to Polk and orchestrated oru seeking of capital outlay funds. The planning money was granted in the 1983 Legislative Session, and the initial funding of $7 million was granted in 1984. A needed supplemental appropriation in 1987 completed funding for the construction of this first quadrant. All of us realize, Senator, that it takes more than your vote to pass budgets, and it was your leadership that steered the budgets with our appropriations through the appropriation process including the Joint Conference Committee to final passage by both the Senate and the House. Saying you helped us obtain the funding is the world's greatest understatement, and that would be sufficient reason to name this academic center for you for that alone. But this is not all you have done for these two institutions, for education in this state and for the greater good of Florida and this county. You have been and remain a leader. You have distinguished yourself throughout your legislative career as epitomized by your serving as Senate President from 1982-1984. You have been recognized for that leadership by innumerable organizations including five awards by the Florida Association of Community Colleges.

You have made major contributions to Florida's agriculture, commerce, finance and education. Although we have benefited locally you have kept your eye on the bit picture-what was best for the state of Florida. We would be here until tomorrow if I took the time to cite all of your accomplishments. It is important that I focus on the most effective piece of education legislation. Your Raise Bill, whose purpose is reflected in its name, Raise Academic Achievement in Secondary Education, has done more to affect the education and future of Florida citizens than any single piece of legislation. Polk Community College and the University of South Florida are grateful because improvement of our high school graduates directly affects the quality of the entering students to both institutions. Of the high school graduates in Polk County that go directly to college half go to PCC, and we are noting an improvement!

We thank you for all you have done. Now, with the assistance of Doniece Elam and Marshall Smith, the first students to register for PCC and USF classes at this center, we dedicate the Curtis Peterson Academic Center to you with this most important inscription.

This facility is dedicated to Senator Peterson whose extraordinary leadership has improved the quality of education for this generation of Floridians and the generations that follow.