Ribbon cutting ceremony among events scheduled this week

JOHNSON CITY — Visitors to the D.P. Culp Student Center at East Tennessee State University are in for a surprise. Following nearly two years of major renovations, the “living room” of campus has gained square footage, amenities, food options, meeting and lounge space, and a more modern look.

A special grand reopening celebration is underway to welcome students, alumni and the community back to the Culp Center.

The public is invited to several grand reopening events on Thursday, March 5, culminating with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Coming Home Celebration at 2 p.m.

The ETSU Bookstore will hold its grand opening starting at 11 a.m. with a formal ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. The ribbon cutting for Roger’s Buc Mart will commence at 1:15 p.m., followed by the Chick-fil-A “first bite” opening celebration at 1:30 p.m. All festivities will take place on the first floor of the Culp Student Center.

“I hope students feel like this building is their home,” said Dr. Leah Adinolfi, associate dean of students. “We purposefully chose ‘coming home’ as the theme for this week’s grand reopening activities and each day it feels a little more like home as students participate in these events and begin spending more time in the building.”

Other Culp grand reopening events include:

• “Here for the Hoopla” Blood Drive hosted by Leadership and Civic Engagement in partnership with Volunteer ETSU and Marsh Regional Blood Center on Wednesday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Talent Show on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the Martha Street Culp Auditorium

• Bucky’s Big Barn Dance featuring the Hogslop String Band and ETSU Old-Time Ramblers begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in the Culp ballroom (3rd floor)

A complete schedule of D.P. Culp Student Center Grand Reopening events is available at www.etsu.edu/culpevents. For more information, contact booherl@etsu.edu or 423-439-4342.