WESSON – School, community and state officials Thursday markedthe dedication of the John Dow/L.G. Young Instructional TechnologyBuilding on the Copiah-Lincoln Community College campus.

The $3.1 million building features 186 state of the artcomputers for student use, six computer labs/classrooms, aninstructional training lab, seven general classrooms, a conferenceroom and a resource room.

“The most important thing what this building brings to ourcampus, specifically our students,” said Co-Lin President Dr.Howell Garner, touting the technology and classroom opportunitiesthat will be offered to students.

The building was funded in part by state bond money saved over afour-year period plus some local revenue from counties in theCo-Lin district. A contribution from alumnus the late Fred and hiswife Jewitt Taylor provided money for some technology aspects ofthe building.

Eugene Bates, chairman of the school’s board of trustees,commended the decision to name the building in honor of long-timetrustees L.G. Young and the late John Dow. Dow served a total of 20years on the board and Young was on the board for 24 years, thelast 11 of which as board secretary.

“Their service was an inspiration to the entire Co-Lin family,and it is entirely fitting we honor them in this way,” Bates toldan audience for approximately 250 people attending the event on ahot September afternoon.

Dow’s wife Leona and his oldest son John Dow Jr. said the familyappreciated the honor of the building naming.

“My father believed education was the greatest way to improvethe lives of people,” Dow said.

Young said he enjoyed every minute of his 36-year career ineducation. He congratulated the school on the building and theopportunities it will provide for students.

“It is a fine building,” Young said.

In other building recognitions, the learning center was namedfor the late Frank Hunter, who served as academic dean of thecollege. The language and mathematics lab was named for JamesLewis, who was principal of Co-Lin High School and later registrarfor the college.

The learning center and math lab were previously located inother buildings on campus.

Two of the new computer labs/classrooms were named in honor ofMaurice Cammack and Dr. Roy Daughdrill. Both were instrumental inguiding the school in the right direction in terms of computertechnology.

Cammack, who began as a computer science instructor at Co-Lin,was the college’s first Director of Computer Technology. Daughdrillwas the long-time division chair for the mathematics and computerscience division.

Daughdrill said the technology in the new building was a greatadvancement over the 12 old Commodore computers that made up theschool’s first computer lab many years ago. He said he appreciatedthe honor and the many caring teachers who helped him both as astudent and as an instructor at the school.

“I’ve really stood on the shoulders of giants over the years,”Daughdrill said.

Dr. Wayne Stonecypher, executive director of the State Board ofCommunity and Junior Colleges, said he was amazed at how quicklyand how well the building came together. He said thousands of areastudents had benefited from Co-Lin and many more will be helped bythe new building.

“It presents outstanding opportunities for folks in this area,”said Stonecypher, citing the low-cost, small class sizes andconvenience afforded by community colleges.

Following some presentations and a ribbon-cutting, guests touredthe new facility in the southern part of the Co-Lin campus.

Some work on the facility remains to be done. That includesfinish steps in front of the building and putting covers aroundsome exposed support beams inside the facility.

“They are on site and will be installed next week,” Garner toldschool trustees about the beam covers at their meeting laterThursday.