St. Vincent Science Building Receives $7 Million

A $40 million project to construct a new natural science hall at St. Vincent College got a major boost today receiving $7 million from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. This is the largest private foundation donation in the liberal arts college's 162-year history. President Jim Towey said the gift will allow the college to move forward with the project including groundbreaking set for 2009. The $40 million will go towards construction and endowment of professorships, student scholarships, research, and maintenance. Towey says around 1/3 of the college's students are enrolled in natural science programs, and the project aims to create a better learning facility for them. Earlier this month, the school received a $7.6 million donation from Herman and Sis Dupre. Herman Dupre is a prominent alumnus of the college, and the new building will be named for him. Completion of the project is set for 2011.