Gadsden State faculty, staff, alumni and supporters recently gathered for a groundbreaking at the newly-renovated courtyard on the Wallace Drive Campus. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Jim Prucnal, dean of Financial Services; Nanda Patel, member of the Cardinal Foundation Board of Directors; Tabitha Bozeman, division chair of Languages and Humanities; Jason Millirons, a member of the alumni association’s executive board; and Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State.

The Gadsden State Community College Alumni Association broke ground for installation of commemorative bricks at the newly-renovated courtyard on the Wallace Drive Campus. The courtyard where the bricks will be installed is located between Allen Hall and Inzer Hall.

“This is a great day for us,” said Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State. “I covet the relationship we have with our supporters and we are always looking for ways to enhance that relationship. Being a part of this brick campaign is an opportunity to create a permanent legacy at the College.”

Supporters can purchase a brick for $100 and include three lines of 16 characters or spaces per line. There are over 2,000 bricks available for purchase.  “Because of the money raised so far through the brick campaign, the alumni association was able to award additional scholarship money at this year’s Honors Day,” said Melissa Davis, president of the alumni association. “We were able to give three $1,500 scholarships this year.”

Heather New, president of The Chamber, was one of the first people to purchase a brick for the courtyard project. “It is such a pleasure for me to work with the alumni association,” said New, who is a member of the association’s board of directors. “The association is doing great work to promote the mission of Gadsden State and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

New said she enrolled at Gadsden State in 1993 and was “welcomed with open arms.”

“I really felt like I was a part of something at Gadsden State,” she said. “I appreciate the investment Gadsden State made not only in me but in others in our community. There’s a significant number of leaders in Etowah County who were educated at Gadsden State. It’s time for those leaders to reinvest in the college that gave them a foundation for who they are today.”

Purchasing a brick is a good way to honor or memorialize loved ones. “I do want to point out that you do not have to be an alum to purchase a brick,” she said. “There may be a parent, a grandparent, a child, an uncle, a friend that you want to honor and you can do that by purchasing a brick to be placed in this beautiful courtyard.”

Those interested in purchasing a brick can go to www.gadsdenstate.edu/brickcampaign to fill out a form. For more information, call Brandy Hyatt, public relations specialist, at 256-549-8247 or email alumni@gadsdenstate.edu.