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Friday Institute
set to open Nov. 9
 |
Roger Winstead / Creative Services |
| The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation will be unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 9. |
A state-of-the-art facility that has been called “the building of ideas” is almost a reality.
The College of Education will celebrate the completion of the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the facility, which is located on Centennial Campus, connected to Centennial Campus Middle School.
Festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with a ribbon cutting and the placement of the cornerstone by the institute’s namesakes, William and Ida Friday. Following dedication remarks by campus and institute administrators, officials will conduct tours of the facility beginning at 5 p.m.
The mission of the high-tech research and outreach facility is to advance education through innovation in teaching, learning and leadership. Institute officials will collaborate with educators, researchers, government and business leaders to provide solutions for critical educational needs across North Carolina, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state.
“We have created one of the most exciting facilities in the state to support education and educators,” says Dr. Kathryn Moore, dean of the College of Education. “I have not seen a more imaginative role for education than this one. We are excited about the new ideas and approaches that will flow from the Friday Institute and to serve the educational needs of North Carolina and beyond.”
Chancellor James L. Oblinger says the new facility reflects the university’s mission and theme of “innovation in action.”
“The Friday Institute will improve education in our state for generations to come, using new technology and new ideas to connect with students,” Oblinger says. “With each child, each teacher and each school the Friday Institute touches, the legacy of Bill and Ida Friday’s commitment to our state and our children will continue. We are proud that this institute carries the Friday name and that it exemplifies the values of NC State – innovative research, meaningful partnerships and a commitment to making a difference. We value our partnership with public education in North Carolina, and are looking to the Friday Institute to deliver an additional breadth and depth to our support for the state’s schools and teachers.”
The building honors the Friday family’s unwavering commitment to educational excellence and equity. Considered one of North Carolina’s “first families of education,” both Bill and Ida Friday have devoted themselves to public service and support for North Carolina’s children and its educational system.
“Mrs. Friday and I are pleased to be associated with this enormous effort to improve the education of our children all across North Carolina and the nation,” says Bill Friday, a 1941 NC State graduate who served as president of the University of North Carolina System from 1956 until his retirement in 1986. “The institute will be filled with creative people who have vigorous imaginations, and we can expect some profound work to come forth. That’s why this institute is so important.”
Posted Oct. 28, 2005
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