President Thayne Hosts Opening Breakfast and Presents Lebanon Valley College's Community Gifts

College grants $58,850 to Annville-Cleona School District, Annville Township, and Union Hose Fire Company

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Dr. Thayne recognized the Valley Ambassadors at the 2014 Opening Breakfast at Lebanon Valley College

ANNVILLE, PA (08/20/2014)(readMedia)-- Dr. Lewis Evitts Thayne, Lebanon Valley College's 18th president, hosted the College's traditional Opening Breakfast on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and announced the College's annual community gifts totaling $58,850. President Thayne presented checks to Annville-Cleona School District for $17,800, Annville Township for $21,450, and Annville's Union Hose Fire Company for $19,600, including $17,000 of a second installment of an overall $50,000 pledge to assist the company in purchasing new fire equipment.

"Strong communities support education," President Thayne said. "This we all believe. But the present, and our Annville history, pushes us further to say: we are a strong community because we support the education of those who will be our leaders in the future."

The president announced preliminary enrollment figures for the 2014–2015 academic year, including 448 new students, both first-year students and transfers. "This is a talented and diverse class, one that will thrive here at LVC," Thayne said.

Of the incoming freshman class, 30 percent will major in the sciences, 20 percent are the first from their family to go to college, and 150 were recruited athletes. In addition, 251 high schools and 13 states are represented, two students are from Saudi Arabia, 18 percent are ALANA students (African/African American, Latino, Asian, Native American), and almost two-thirds ranked in the top 30 percent of their class.

President Thayne also invited attendees to tour the new Lebegern Learning Commons in the lower level of Mund College Center: "Just below us, there is an amazing space where students will find academic services that deepen their classroom engagement, strengthen their learning skills, and help shape their undergraduate and post-graduate success."

Lebegern Learning Commons houses the Center for Writing and Tutoring Resources, Center for Disability Resources, and Centers for Global Education and Career Development. It also includes a new Commuter Center, multiple technology hubs, and an updated Multipurpose Room/Underground. New spaces were also created for use by Wig and Buckle Theater Company, the digital communications and music recording technology programs, and other campus groups.

For the full text of President Thayne's remarks, visit http://www.lvc.edu/president/breakfast-2014.aspx. View photos from the event on the College's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LebanonValleyCollege.

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