LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– Students, faculty, and staff will raise a toast Friday to the man who helped make the University of Kentucky’s new student center become a reality.
The Bill Gatton Student Center is already open for the new school year, but today school leaders will host a celebratory grand opening.
Carol Martin Gatton, known as Bill, is a businessman and philanthropist who donated $20 million to the project.
University leaders say Gatton’s gift made the major three-year-renovation and expansion of the building possible.
The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. and at noon everyone will grab a bottle of coke and toast Gatton.
After that there will be a number of games, performances, giveaways, and free food.
“It really becomes the living room of the campus,” said Jay Blanton, with UK Public Relations. “It’s where student, faculty, and staff can gather. They can meet, and talk, and engage in conversation and learn from each other.”
The student center includes a new book store, a theater, several gathering spaces, high tech meeting rooms, and even a Starbucks.
