On Thursday, April 21, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the newly constructed building 4, also known as the Multicultural Center (Cosmetology and Administration).
Students and faculty gathered together to honor the opening of the new facility on campus.
After the long wait of five years since the planning of the building, it is now finally accessible to all students and staff. The transformation of the college is because of the visionary leadership in this district and the generous support of this county and this state, said Regina Stanback Stroud, president of Skyline College.
The college welcomed many guests. The program began with the ribbon cutting, then the African-American Success Through Excellence and Persistence Math Academy sang a song that is known as the negro national anthem, as well as “Lift Every Voice and Sing” for the celebration of Lincoln’s birthday.
Singing “This song quickly became a way for African-Americans to demonstrate their patriotism and hope for the future,” Stroud said. “Many of us grew up with this song being sung at just about any public event we attended. We sang it as often as we said the pledge of allegiance.”
The African-American Success Through Excellence and Persistence Math Academy, under the leadership of professor Patricia Deamer, was welcomed after the song.
This was followed by a song and dance performed by the Kababayan Learning Community. The song was performed on a Kalutang, one of the most ancient percussion instruments in Filipino culture.
“I passed by the building during the ribbon-cutting celebration,” said Christy Diaz, a student from the First Year Experience program. “Most of the classes are in Pacific Heights, where most cosmetology students are, and I’m glad that as I enter cosmetology next semester, I will be in the new building experiencing the best out of the facilities.”
The building features several floors that will be used by the cosmetology program; the multicultural offices and classrooms will be on the second floor of the building, and these departments will be moving into the building at the end of the spring semester and beginning of the summer.
“This building will house the cosmetology program, which is celebrated across the state and is recognized with many awards for its excellent program,” Stroud said. “We are proud that the staff who work so diligently to support the college administration, faculty, staff and students have facilities that enable them to carry out their work and support this college with pride and dignity.”
