{"id":151,"date":"2002-11-23T18:00:07","date_gmt":"2002-11-23T23:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/"},"modified":"2010-10-19T18:02:14","modified_gmt":"2010-10-19T22:02:14","slug":"trinity-center-dedication","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/trinity-center-dedication\/","title":{"rendered":"Trinity Center Dedication"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Welcome to the future of Trinity College!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today, the Trinity family, neighbors and friends gather for an  occasion that last occurred in 1965 on this campus &#8212; the dedication of  a new building. The Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports stands  magnificently as the symbol of the new Trinity, its bones shaped  through the influence of the elegant architecture of the historic  buildings on campus, especially the arches of Alumnae Hall and the red  roof of Main, its systems and functions reflecting the most modern  state-of-the-art technologies and programs possible in the Year 2002. <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"More...\" src=\"..\/wp-includes\/js\/tinymce\/plugins\/wordpress\/img\/trans.gif\" alt=\"\" \/>The  Trinity Center today becomes the standard by which our campus and our  college will be measured for many years to come. In dedicating this  athletic complex, we are doing more than adding a gym, a pool, a field,  some tennis courts, a fitness center to Trinity\u2019s campus. In its  fullness, the Trinity Center is a bold statement of Trinity\u2019s  reaffirmation of its fundamental devotion to the education and  advancement of women, its care and concern for the education of the  whole human person, its stewardship to its alumnae, community, city,  Church and nation to ensure the vitality of this important and unique  university for generations to come.<\/p>\n<p>To open our celebration this morning, let us begin as we have done  for a century on this campus by invoking the blessings of the Trinity on  this occasion and the building we are dedicating today.<\/p>\n<p>Psalm 100, a Psalm of thanksgiving, seems appropriate to begin this celebration:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;<br \/>\nWorship the Lord with cries of gladness;<br \/>\nCome before him with joyful song.<br \/>\nKnow that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong,<br \/>\nwhose people we are, God\u2019s well-tended flock.<br \/>\nEnter the temple gates with praise,<br \/>\nits courts with thanksgiving.<br \/>\nGive thanks to God, bless his name;<br \/>\nGood indeed is the Lord<br \/>\nWhose love endures forever,<br \/>\nWhose faithfulness lasts through every age.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Please join me in saying the Trinity prayer:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>May the power of the father govern and protect us<br \/>\nMay the wisdom of the son teach and enlighten us<br \/>\nMay the love of the Holy Spirit renew and quicken us<br \/>\nMay the blessings of the All Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit<br \/>\nBe with us now and forever. Amen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s sit back and enjoy a parade, students from each class of  Trinity, our athletes, and very importantly, our sisters from the Girl  Scouts of the Nation\u2019s Capital who will conduct the flag ceremony at the  end of the parade. When you see the Girl Scouts coming, please stand  and be ready to salute the flag. (Parade and Flag Ceremony)<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nHistoric November Dates for Trinity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Two years ago, on November 4, 2000, we gathered on this site to break  ground for the Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports. That was a  glorious day, the culmination of Trinity\u2019s Centennial Celebration.  November seems to be an especially noteworthy month for Trinity. It was  on a cold November day, November 3, 1900, that the first group of  students wended their way to the front door of a building (Main\u2019s South  Hall) that they immediately declared \u201chopelessly unfinished\u201d and they  began school amid the noise of hammering and workmen trying to finish  the project. [We honor their tradition &#8212; while certainly not  \u2018hopelessly\u2019 so, the building you see today is not quite complete, with  about a month to go inside, and outside, weather willing, tennis courts  and roadwork yet to be done. We are not off schedule &#8212; we deliberately  planned this ceremony to coincide with these other important dates in  Trinity\u2019s history. Our friends from Forrester Construction and all of  the subcontractors have been working round the clock to prepare for  today, and they are on schedule.] A few weeks after Trinity\u2019s first  class on November 8, 1900, a great crowd of dignitaries gathered for  what was the elegant formal dedication of Trinity College on November  22, 1900.<\/p>\n<p>Today, almost 102 years to the day of Trinity College\u2019s dedication,  we gather yet another group of Trinity supporters and distinguished  civic leaders to dedicate a new facility that represents a new phase in  the life of this great institution. We will hear today from some of the  dignitaries with us this morning &#8212; Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes  Norton, Councilmember Vincent Orange, Catholic Schools Superintendent  Patty Weitzel-O\u2019Neill, Girl Scout Executive Director Jan Verhage, Dr.  Lillian Greene-Chamberlain of the Women\u2019s Sports Foundation. We could  not possibly include everyone in the program, but we are also happy to  have in attendance this morning Jadwiga Sebrechts, president of the  Women\u2019s College Coalition, John Childers, president of the Consortium of  Universities of the Metropolitan Washington Area, friends from the YWCA  of the Nation\u2019s Capital, Carol Jackson from the D.C. Public Schools  representing Superintendent Paul Vance, and many neighbors from the  Brookland\/Edgewood communities and friends from the corporate and civic  communities of Washington. We also are delighted to have with us today  several hundred alumnae and members of their families, and I want to  recognize in particular the members of the Alumnae Association Board of  Directors. Many thanks as well to the faculty, staff and students of  Trinity who are here this morning and who spent so much time preparing  for today.<\/p>\n<p>This is a day to give thanks, to celebrate, to share the joy of making history with the Trinity family once more.<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nCongresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are particularly grateful to have with us today a woman who is a  tremendous leader for our city, a tireless advocate for the District of  Columbia in Congress, a great representative of the interests of our  citizens. We are proud to count her as an honorary alumna of Trinity  College, and a great friend of Trinity.<\/p>\n<p>Please join me in welcoming the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. Delegate to the Congress of the United States.<\/p>\n<p>(Congresswoman Norton makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Councilmember Vincent Orange<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports is a significant  investment in our neighborhood here in Ward 5, and we are pleased to be  part of the Ward 5 economic development movement. Ward 5 is fortunate to  have a truly dynamic, smart and tireless leader in Councilmember  Vincent Orange. I\u2019m also pleased to note that Gwen Orange is a graduate  of Trinity\u2019s Educational Technology Leadership Institute, so we\u2019re all  in the family. Please join me in welcoming Councilmember Orange.<\/p>\n<p>(Councilmember Orange makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In order to dedicate our new building properly, let us gather to cut  the ribbon. With this symbolic gesture, we dedicate these athletic  facilities to the future students of Trinity College and the neighbors  and citizens of Washington who will benefit from this Center. We cut the  ribbon on the future of Trinity College!<\/p>\n<p>(The following individuals joined the ribbon cutting:)<\/p>\n<p>The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton<br \/>\nThe Honorable Vincent Orange<br \/>\nSr. Mary Ann Cook, former Board Chair<br \/>\nSr. Regina Finnegan, former Board Chair<br \/>\nSr. Margaret Claydon, President Emerita<br \/>\nLila O\u2019Brien Sullivan \u201868, Member, Board of Trustees<br \/>\nNancy Oram Lesher \u201869, Benefactor<br \/>\nPeggy Lewis \u201877, Vice President of the Alumnae Association<br \/>\nPhillip Renfrow, Architect, Geier Brown and Renfrow<br \/>\nWayne Hughes, Architect, The Hughes Group<br \/>\nDavid Forrester, Forrester Construction<br \/>\nDr. Lillian Greene-Chamberlain, Women\u2019s Sports Foundation<br \/>\nMaya Caraway \u201804, Student Government President<br \/>\nAngelica Lara \u201806, On behalf of the Student Athletes<br \/>\nDr. Patricia Weitzel-O\u2019Neill, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Washington<br \/>\nJan Verhage, Executive Director, Girl Scouts of the Nation\u2019s Capital<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognition of the Board of Trustees<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The leadership of Trinity\u2019s Board of Trustees over the years has been  crucial to Trinity\u2019s ability to proceed with this project. We have  several of our former trustees with us today, and I want to recognize  and salute: Julio Heurtematte, Dennis Meyer, John Schwieters, Sr.  Bernadette Glodek, SND, Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of  Washington, Sr. Sue Ann Shay, SND.<\/p>\n<p>I also want to point out and thank in a very special way Sister Mary  Ann Cook, president of Education for Parish Service, who served on  Trinity\u2019s board for twelve years, the last six as Board Chair. It was  during her tenure as Board Chair and thanks to her leadership that the  trustees summoned the courage and vision necessary to agree to proceed  with this project. Sr. Mary Ann, your strength and firmness made this  day possible, and we salute you with gratitude and affection!<\/p>\n<p>At the time I became president, the Board Chair was a woman whom I  came to admire deeply, someone who taught me how to be a president  through her own tremendous example of leadership at the Academy of Notre  Dame in Villanova where she presided over the growth and development of  that school, its grounds and buildings for more than 30 years. She also  taught me so much about the ways in which the vision of St. Julie  Billiart could and should be practiced in schools and colleges founded  by the Sisters of Notre Dame, ensuring that the SND mission and charism  would stay well and vital at Trinity. Please join me in welcoming Sr.  Regina Finnegan, chair of Trinity\u2019s board from 1987 through 1993, and  president emerita of the Academy of Notre Dame in Villanova.<\/p>\n<p>(Sr. Regina Finnegan makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s Board of Trustees is a group of dedicated women and men who  share a deep commitment to ensuring the strength and vitality of Trinity  for generations to come. Sisters of Notre Dame, alumnae and leaders  from the Washington community come together on Trinity\u2019s board to  monitor our progress toward all of our strategic goals and to lead the  fund raising effort to secure the resources we need to remain  competitive. I am particularly grateful to Mrs. Lila O\u2019Brien Sullivan,  Class of 1968, for her great generosity of time, talent and treasure as a  member of our board, benefactor and active volunteer leader for  Trinity. Our Board Chair Peggy O\u2019Brien regrets that business has taken  her out of town today, and we are happy to welcome Lila Sullivan who  brings greetings on behalf of the Trustees.<br \/>\n(Lila O&#8217;Brien Sullivan makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sr. Margaret Claydon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The need to build appropriate athletic facilities on this campus was  clearly articulated by presidents of the College as early as 1902, and  the first Gym Fund began in 1914, raising $25,000 to construct the old  swimming pool in 1916 that was supposed to be the ground floor of a new  athletic center &#8212; a very old concept interpreted in an extraordinarily  contemporary way in today\u2019s Trinity Center. But through the 1920&#8217;s and  30&#8217;s the rest of the money could not be found, especially in the  depression years, and by the early 1940&#8217;s other needs arose, so a  Science Building was constructed on top of the swimming pool &#8212; and  thank goodness for that!<\/p>\n<p>In the 1960&#8217;s, another Trinity president once again articulated the  great need for athletic facilities, and she envisioned a magnificent  campus plan. Sr. Margaret Claydon was the longest-serving president of  Trinity, our greatest builder, indeed, Trinity\u2019s greatest president. She  built the wing of Main Hall where the Art and Music facilities reside;  then she built the library, for which we are all eternally grateful, and  then Kerby Hall. She accomplished what was absolutely necessary for  Trinity at that time, but she also never gave up on her vision for the  sports center. She has put on her hard hat and joined me for biweekly  tours of the construction site throughout the last year, and her wisdom  and experience in managing building projects has been exceptionally  valuable to me. In so many ways, the Trinity Center we dedicate today is  thanks to the vision, faith and persistence of our President Emerita  Sr. Margaret Claydon. Please join me in welcoming and thanking her for  her leadership.<\/p>\n<p>(Sr. Margaret Claydon makes remarks.)<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nRecognition of The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is not coincidental that the three women I have just recognized  are Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. As we launch this new phase in the  life of Trinity College, we do so with a profound sense of gratitude to  the SNDs along with a great sense of responsible stewardship for the  enterprise they have entrusted to us to carry out their mission. I think  if Trinity\u2019s founders Sister Julia McGroarty and Sister Mary Euphrasia  Taylor were here today, they would be leading the parade, and I suspect  that Sr. Euphrasia would have already plunged into the pool. Will all of  the SNDs here today please stand and let us thank you!<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nRecognition of Benefactors<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Those of us who have visions are patiently tolerated by those who  must pay the bills. Presidents are notorious dreamers, but our dreams  are meaningless without the charitable gift support that is necessary  for capital development of the college campus. Over the years, Trinity  College has been most fortunate to enjoy wonderful gift support from our  alumnae, parents, friends, corporations and foundations. Bolstered by  this track record, when we took the measure of what we would need to  create the Trinity Center, we went out to ask with confidence, convinced  that the project was vital to Trinity\u2019s future, certain that the  Trinity family would respond with generosity and grace. We were not  disappointed. The response of the Trinity community to the Centennial  Campaign which supports the Trinity Center is terrific. To date, we have  raised $10.75 million toward our goal of $12 million, surpassing the  first goal we set of $10 million some time ago. We have just $1.25  million to go, and we remain confident that Trinity will reach this  milestone very soon.<\/p>\n<p>To speak today on behalf of all benefactors of this project, we are  pleased to welcome Mrs. Nancy Oram Lesher of the Class of 1969. Nancy  and her husband Donald have given a very generous gift to name that  fabulous spa in the pool area &#8212; Nancy, I think your name will be cited  millions of times in years to come by the grateful patrons of the spa.  Thank you so much for your great generosity!<\/p>\n<p>(Nancy Oram Lesher &#8217;69 makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognition of the Alumnae Association<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Alumnae leadership is a longstanding tradition of Trinity College,  and the support of the Alumnae Association in this project has been  exceptional. We are expecially grateful for the wonderful gift of  $150,000 that the Association presented to Trinity at Alumnae Reunion in  June. Alumnae President Betsy Griffith could not be with us today, but  she sends greetings, and she asked Alumnae Association Vice President  Peggy Lewis to bring greetings from the Alumnae Association Board of  Directors.<\/p>\n<p>(Peggy Lewis &#8217;77 makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognition of the Architects<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is something about watching a building project evolve that  convinces me that it is one of humanity\u2019s great intellectual and social  accomplishments. A building project is an incredible social microcosm,  with hundreds and hundreds of individuals gifted with many special  talents all trying to make those talents work together in a coordinated,  seamless manner to erect a magnificent structure that will endure for  many generations. It just continues to amaze me that they know where to  put the pipes and the wires and how to make it all work as an organic  whole. Of course, the individuals who must have the broadest vision of  that organic being we call a building are the architects, individuals  who combine deeply artistic sensitivities with broad technical know-how  to create a work of durable, functional art such as the Trinity Center.<\/p>\n<p>I would like to present to you the architects who are responsible for  this project. Mr. Phillip Renfrow is the lead project architect from  the firm of Geier Brown and Renfrow. Mr. Wayne Hughes is the architect  of the athletic building itself from the Hughes Group.<\/p>\n<p>(Phillip Renfrow and Wayne Hughes make remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognition of Forrester Construction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Just like presidents, architects have visions. Just like vice  presidents and deans, the construction contractor has to make the vision  work in yards of concrete and tons of steel and miles of conduit and  gallons of paint&#8230; and on budget on time. Trinity has been most  fortunate to have for this project not only a tremendous team of  architects, but an equally exceptional partner as the general  construction manager, the Forrester company. The Forrester colleagues  with whom we have worked have been delightful, professional, deeply  caring about ensuring the quality of this project for Trinity.<\/p>\n<p>Before I invite David, Rick and Scott Forrester to come up, I want to  extend a very personal and public thanks to the Forrester leadership  team on this project: Marney Bands, the senior project manager; Rich  Golay, the senior project manager; Joe Ribero, the superintendent, and  Ben Benoski, the assistant superintendent. Marney, Rich, Joe and Ben,  we\u2019re so grateful to you!<\/p>\n<p>Please join me in thanking this team and welcoming David Forrester.<\/p>\n<p>(David Forrester makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p>Let me add my deep thanks to all of the countless subcontractors and  others whose time and talent made this project so exceptional.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Importance of Sports for Girls and Women<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now, for the final part of the program, let\u2019s talk about WHY we\u2019ve  built this great athletic complex. The WHY is found in the WHO &#8212; the  individuals whose lives will be significantly improved through the many  health and fitness, educational and recreational benefits that will  result from using these facilities. Those individuals will include  current and future generations of Trinity students, faculty, staff and  alumnae; our neighbors and friends here in Ward 5 and throughout the  city; our special partners like the Girl Scouts, the Washington Tennis  and Education Foundation, D.C. Scores, the DC Public Schools, DC Parks  and Recreation, and the schools of the Archdiocese of Washington, and so  many other partners.<\/p>\n<p>All of these countless future patrons of the Trinity Center should  stop each time they pass through these doors to give thanks to all those  we have already mentioned, and then give thanks again for the vision,  courage and drive of the pioneers of women\u2019s sports, whose stories gave  us the inspiration to persist in seeing this project through to  completion. This year, we are observing the 30th anniversary of Title  IX, the law that guaranteed equal opportunity for women in all levels of  education. The law had particular impact on women\u2019s collegiate sports,  providing previously unimagined opportunities to women on big university  campuses.<\/p>\n<p>In some circles today, however, it\u2019s fashionable to say that Title IX  is outmoded, that the law might have been a mistake. Tell that to  Billie Jean King, one of the greatest women athletes and tennis players  of all time, who did not receive the same rewards for her  accomplishments that male tennis players received in their tournaments.  Tell that to Donna Lopiano, president of the Women\u2019s Sports Foundation,  who passionately recounts the day when the little league coach refused  to give her a uniform in spite of the fact that she was the best player  who came out for the team. Tell that to women of a certain age who  attended the University of Maryland or George Washington University or  other such institutions where, before Title IX, they were forced to play  their sports in cramped little huts where you had to aim low for the  basket, putting your foot against the wall to be out of bounds. Trinity  could be competitive with them back in those days&#8230;. and we will be  again, in contemporary competition in our magnificent new arena.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Women\u2019s Sports Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The pioneers in women\u2019s sports were part of the revolution in women\u2019s  educational opportunity, and it is natural that Trinity College, as the  only women\u2019s college remaining in Washington, works in partnership with  such women. We are proud of our relationship in particular with the  Women\u2019s Sports Foundation, and today we are delighted to welcome Dr.  Lillian Greene-Chamberlain, Olympic champion, Board of Trustees of the  Women\u2019s Sports Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>(Dr. Lillian Greene-Chamberlain makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Students and Student Athletes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This new facility will provide significant benefits to many future  generations of Trinity students. Our current students are eager to claim  their place in history as the first generation to enjoy the Trinity  Center. They deserve this pride of place, since they have put up with  the construction noise and dust and occasional inconveniences. The other  night, when our fall athletes had the first student tour of the Center,  the joy on their faces told me that all those mornings of being  awakened by jackhammers are forgiven (almost!).<\/p>\n<p>To bring greetings from the students of Trinity College, please  welcome Ms. Maya Carraway, the president of the Student Government  Association.<\/p>\n<p>(Maya Carraway &#8217;04 makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p>Trinity\u2019s student athletes today are some of the most remarkable  young women I have ever had the pleasure to meet. The dedication of our  fall athletes was clear in the ways in which Trinity\u2019s teams excelled in  sports where once we were not considered a threat. Now, the other teams  in the Atlantic Women\u2019s College Conference know that they have to  reckon with Trinity! Our soccer team went all the way to the finals of  the AWCC tournament. Our crew team has blown away other boats on the  river, including earning \u201cChampions of the Chase\u201d shirts for winning the  women\u2019s four at the Head of the Occoquan. To speak on behalf of our  athletes, I am pleased to present Ms. Anjelica Lara, Class of 2006, a  member of the soccer team.<\/p>\n<p>(Angelica Lara &#8217;06 makes remarks.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The young women who attend Trinity\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences  come from public and private schools throughout the Washington region,  as well as nationally and internationally. Their teachers may well have  earned master\u2019s degrees and continuing education credit in our School of  Education. Their mothers, and even their dads today, might be taking  courses through Trinity\u2019s School of Professional Studies. Our  relationship with our area school systems is of tremendous importance to  Trinity &#8212; so much so that we\u2019re delighted when one of \u2018our own\u2019 takes  over a leadership position with schools.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Patricia Weitzel-O\u2019Neill was, for 20 years, a member of Trinity\u2019s  faculty in Sociology, and for the last nine years of her tenure with  Trinity she was vice president for academic affairs and dean of the  College of Arts and Sciences. We are so delighted to welcome her back to  the campus today in her new role as Superintendent of Schools for the  Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nThe Girl Scouts of the Nation\u2019s Capital<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Finally &#8212; we opened our program with the Girl Scouts, and we close  with this wonderful organization as well. Trinity College and the Girl  Scouts have always enjoyed a warm relationship, and over the years  Trinity found many ways to express that obvious synergy, even offering  courses in Girl Scouting in the 1920&#8217;s. Today, our partnership has found  exciting new expression in the ways in which we are able to work  together as organizations devoted to the education and advancement of  girls and women.<\/p>\n<p>Last spring, we created the Girl Scouts Scholarship Program for  scouts and troop leaders, with special emphasis on Gold and Silver award  scouts, and I am pleased to say that five members of the Class of 2006  have received the Girl Scout Scholarships to date, including Anjelica  Lara, as well as one troop leader. We hope to increase that number in  the years ahead as we interest more Girl Scouts in the power of women\u2019s  higher education, and we think the Trinity Center might just have  something to do with that! We hope that this new facility will be full  of Girl Scouts on many occasions.<\/p>\n<p>Jan Verhage, the executive director of the Girl Scouts of the  Nation\u2019s Capital, is one of the most amazing leaders I have ever known.  Through her creativity, smarts, passion and plain common sense, she has  made this Girl Scout Council the biggest, the best and the most fun of  any in the nation. Jan, we are so delighted that you can be with us  today to wrap up our program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recognition of All Members of the Team for the Trinity Center<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before we move on to the food and party, let me offer a few more  notes of recognition and thanks. This project would never have come to  fruition without a great deal of teamwork on the part of many  professionals. I would like to publicly recognize and thank:<\/p>\n<p>John Leary of the law firm of O\u2019Donoghue and O\u2019Donoghue, Trinity\u2019s  general counsel who has contributed countless hours of service to  Trinity, and in particular on this project<\/p>\n<p>Maureen Dwyer and colleagues at the law firm of Shaw Pittman for representing Trinity so well on our zoning issues<\/p>\n<p>Sean Glynn and colleagues at Arent Fox for representing us on the bond issue<\/p>\n<p>Michael Hodge and friends at the D.C. Office of Economic Development for guiding us through the bond issue process<\/p>\n<p>Sam Schreiber, Patty Lenihan and friends at First Union\/Wachovia for having the faith in Trinity to underwrite our bonds<\/p>\n<p>Joe Beck, Mike Guernier at Shattuck Hammond for guiding us through the bond rating process<\/p>\n<p>Michael Catlett and colleagues at Advanced Project Management for representing Trinity so well throughout this effort<\/p>\n<p>Paul Brailsford and Centers Inc. for undertaking the management of this facility<\/p>\n<p>Rob Urbach, Josh Schwartz, Audrey D\u2019Onofrio and colleagues at SFX Sports Group for representing Trinity<\/p>\n<p>Here on campus, everyone deserves a huge thanks for cooperating with  this project, but in particular, I want to recognize and thank:<\/p>\n<p>Christy Neff, Jody Bergstrom, Christy Germani, Matthew Virtue and all of our coaches and athletic staff<\/p>\n<p>All of our staff in the Physical Plant department who have had added duties as a result of this effort<\/p>\n<p>Food service staff who have experienced many changes and inconveniences as we tried to hook up these two buildings<\/p>\n<p>CFO Barbara Lettiere and Operations Director Dan Slattery for quickly  coming up to speed on this project and preparing the plans for the next  phase of management<\/p>\n<p>Judy Tart, Shaughna Giracca, Liza Boffen-Yourdanov, Alicia Rajnarine,  Heather Jamison, Kimberly Davis and Kimberly Tucker for your great work  in development and alumnae affairs<\/p>\n<p>Ann Pauley who, in addition to leading the development effort and  doing all of the public relations, also was Trinity\u2019s staff liaison for  construction<\/p>\n<p><strong>Closing Remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Winston Churchill once said, \u201cWe shape our buildings; thereafter they  shape us.\u201d While some of us do hope that there will be literal meaning  in that saying when it comes to the Trinity Center, in the larger sense  that phrase also articulates our hope today that the Trinity Center for  Women and Girls in Sports will shape the future of Trinity College in  ways that are as beautiful, elegant and ambitious as this architecture.<\/p>\n<p>Today we make a good beginning on a great future. We look forward to  welcoming you back to the Trinity Center often, and especially in the  next few months as we continue to introduce this new facility to  friends.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for all that you have done to help the future of Trinity College become a reality!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the future of Trinity College! Today, the Trinity family, neighbors and friends gather for an occasion that last occurred in 1965 on this campus &#8212; the dedication of a new building. The Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports stands magnificently as the symbol of the new Trinity, its bones shaped through the influence of the elegant architecture of the historic buildings on campus, especially the arches of Alumnae Hall and the red roof of Main, its systems and functions reflecting the most modern state-of-the-art technologies and programs possible in the Year 2002. The Trinity Center today &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-151","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/151\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinitydc.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}