JONESBORO (5/20/11) - The Arkansas State Department of Athletics held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open-house reception Friday evening for its newly renovated academic facility, renamed the Charles Luter Family Academic Success Center in September 2008.
A large portion of the funds for the renovation came from the largest single donation in the athletic department's history, a $400,000 gift from Charles Luter that has been used to enhance not only the buildings structure, but the overall academic environment for ASU student-athletes.
The Charles Luter Family Academic Success Center serves as a foundation for structure, discipline and organization for the education of all ASU student-athletes. The facility, coupled with innovative programs and equipment, currently houses the academic support staff, tutors, computer labs, a resource room, study areas, tutorial rooms, small group study centers, a large conference room, the compliance office and spring sports coaching offices.
"This is obviously a very special day for ASU Athletics," said ASU Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee. "We are extremely proud of this building and what it represents. We always try to do everything we can to recognize, honor and reward our student-athletes for what they do academically, and obviously providing a first-class facility is a major part of that."
"A wonderful job has been done with this facility and our family is very proud that we're able to have this on the ASU campus," said Luter. "I think these student-athletes that attend ASU will really benefit from this facility and what is occurring here academically, and it will help them be successful as they move on."
Among the most recent and noticeable modifications to the Charles Luter Family Academic Success Center is a new foyer housed in a brick and rock exterior that, along with new landscaping, gives the entrance to the building a modern look and creates a stronger image. The actual foyer has a large Red Wolves logo embedded in a terrazzo flooring that greets visitors as they enter the building. A receptionist office now also connects to the lobby area, which holds all-new furniture and a plaque recognizing Charles and his wife, Kay.
A restructuring of the academic resource center, now known as Dawson's Den, has occurred, including a wall-wrap celebrating academic success that is clearly visible for student-athletes working in computer lab. Additionally, tutorial rooms and computer-work stations have been upgraded in this area, which also displays pictures of the most recent ASU graduates. The names of the latest members of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll are also showcased in Dawson's Den. The area is named after Scott and Kay Dawson, longtime supporters of Red Wolves' athletics.
"We're very proud of the academic success we've been able to achieve," added Lee. "We try to recognize our student-athletes for what they do each semester, and I feel like the honors we have on display within this building certainly help us reach that goal. Whenever a student-athlete comes here, we want them to feel a strong sense of pride about academics."
Among ASU's most recent accomplishments was 173 student-athletes achieving a 3.0 grade point average for the 2011 spring semester, including 32 with a 4.0. There were also a school-record 186 members on the 2010 fall ASU Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and 40 of those student-athletes held a 4.0 to also set a school record. The spring numbers represented 54 percent of all ASU student-athletes, while the fall totals represented 56 percent.
Team photos have been hung and are displayed along the walls of the building, along with plaques displaying the all-time winners of the Terry Gwin and Scott and Kay Dawson Ambassador Awards, two of the highest honors and ASU student-athlete can receive.
Additional renovations are still scheduled, including new carpeting and a "Wall of Honor" that will recognize special student-athletes that come to Arkansas State and excelled in their business, in their profession, in their career or in their community.
