GCC will celebrate successful $5 million capital campaign

File photo by Tom Rivers – The clock leading to the entrance of GCC in Batavia is pictured with the Conable Technology Building at left. A new “Student Success Center” will be built in front of the clock at what is now a parking lot.

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College on Thursday will celebrate a successful capital campaign, where donors gave $5 million for scholarships and two new buildings.

GCC will establish a Student Success Center that will bring together in one place new state-of-the-art services focused on academic, career and success coaching for students. The $5 million, 9,000 square foot facility will nearly encircle Clock Tower Plaza, transforming the outdoor space into an inviting courtyard.

The college is also building an event center that will be located adjacent to the outdoor athletic fields on the Batavia Campus. At a cost of just under $14 million, the 43,000 square foot Center will be able to accommodate a wide variety of events.

The GCC Foundation helped raised the $5 million in donations from the community for the projects. The Foundation will celebrate from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the William W. Stuart Forum at the main GCC campus in Batavia.

The event will include refreshments, a brief campaign report and comments from GCC President Dr. James M. Sunser, GCC Foundation President Robert L. Boyce and General Chair Craig Yunker.

The celebration marks the end of an 18-month long fundraising effort for the upcoming expansion of the GCC Batavia campus and permanent new scholarships for students living in communities served by the campus centers in Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw.