Opening of Golisano Center for Student Success brings renewed energy at Canisius
- Hannah Wiley
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Hannah Wiley, Managing Editor
The long-awaited opening of the new Golisano Center for Student Success happened on March 27, becoming an available resource and study space for students. The ribbon cutting that took place at 1 p.m. drew an impressive crowd of students, faculty, staff and alumni, who have all been anxiously waiting to see the new space. The space began being planned after former Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano donated $360 million to 82 nonprofits in upstate New York, with $5 million of that going to Canisius.
A prominent voice for the student body at the event was United Students Association (USA) President Analee DeGlopper, who spoke about the space and how it will benefit current and incoming students at the university. “From a student perspective, this means more opportunities to connect with guidance, mentorship and resources. It means the support we receive is more connected, coordinated and comprehensive; more opportunities, more connections and more success,” DeGlopper stated in her speech. DeGlopper also talked about her personal connection to the university, and how excited it makes her to see the institution thrive as she is the second of three sisters, who have or currently attend the university. She emphasized how this space will provide endless opportunities for students and allow them to thrive as leaders and students during their time here.
While Tom Golisano himself wasn’t able to be in attendance, Eric Drayton, the executive director for the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation was. Drayton took a moment to touch on the foundation's mission to improve lives and that investing in people unlocks opportunities for not only them, but also the community. “This center is a reflection of that belief that your success matters and that, with the right support, there is no limit to what you will be able to achieve. Today is about opening a space designed with your success, your growth and your future,” Drayton stated. The center is meant to be a space where students can discover what they’re capable of and prepare them for life after college. Drayton continued to say, “At the center of it all, whether you need help choosing a major, preparing for a career, improving your writing or simply finding a place where you belong, this space is meant for you.”
The event rounded out with its speeches with a few words from President Stoute. Since coming to Canisius, he has striven to see the potential in every student that comes onto campus and allow them to have the opportunity to achieve it. From the Golden Griffin Guarantee to the Buffalo Promise Scholarship and now the new student success center, Canisius is a place where students can thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.“Today, we don't just cut a ribbon. We open a door to possibility, to support and to the future of every student who is or becomes part of this Canisius University family. Canisius students will walk through this door for generations, and they will know their potential matters, their success matters, and we are invested in them,” Stoute said.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees were encouraged to explore all that the new space had to offer. From that moment on, students made the space their own, filling the once vacant floors with the liveliness the Canisius community knows and loves. Following Easter break the space is now being fully utilized and is quickly becoming another reason the library is the center of community, success and ambition on campus.
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