By Megan Prevost, Biotechnology

  On Thursday, October 1st, the Midcoast Campus opened the doors to a brand new building that could potentially revolutionize the way students learn and study on campus.

  The L.L. Bean Learning Commons and Science Center will provide students with not only tutoring and study rooms but also a library, advising offices, a cafe and high-grade classrooms. L.L. Bean contributed a large amount of money to make this building possible, putting money towards improving technology and education in 2010, as well as donating money towards the landscaping of the project just recently. There are currently 600 students enrolled at the Midcoast campus and every single one of them will benefit from this new center.

  This new space on campus will provide a better learning environment for the students here. They will have access to the new tutoring center where they can get help with their homework. Whether it be writing papers for English or labs for a science class, they’ll be able to find help here.

  Every classroom in this building features high-grade technology, including a smart board, which is essentially a large interactive computer that consumes an entire wall. They even integrated other technologies such as mannequins that stimulate medical situations for the EMT students to use. These rooms also feature one-way mirrors that allow the students to be observed by instructors while they learn how to fix whatever medical problem they are working on with the mannequins. These improvements will have a great impact on the students in these programs, allowing them to have more involvement in a hands-on learning environment.

  There are also study rooms that they can go to to get some peace and quiet. The cafe provides new food options aside from the dining hall and is a place that students can go to grab something quick to eat or drink. Not only does it give a the entire campus with a better nurturing and learning environment, but it also gives the campus an overall better look. It improves the look of the campus, adding another beautiful building and surrounding it with planted flowers to make it look appealing to the eye.

  The donation that made this all possible was made part in 2010 by L.L. Bean to support equipment and technology needs on the Midcoast campus, and part just recently towards the landscaping of this building and the area around it. In addition from receiving donations from L.L. Bean, this project also received donations from the late Leon Gorman, who was formerly the president and chairman of L.L. Bean, and his wife Lisa, who helped create the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges. This couple has provided significant support to all of the state’s community colleges.

  Chris McCormick, L.L. Bean’s president and CEO, explained that they couldn’t be happier about the honor.

  “Leon Gorman strongly believed in the potential of this institution and that investing in Maine’s community colleges is the best investment we can make in Maine’s future.” McCormick was previously a Maine Community College System Trustee, showing how many people at L.L. Bean support the community college system.

  An additional donation of $125,000 was made recently again, approved by the L.L. Bean Board of Directors in memory of Leon. This donation went both to Preble Street and the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges. These donations were made with the intent of helping Maine’s citizens in need, helping them get a college education when they otherwise might not have been able to.

  SMCC’s President Ron Cantor stated how grateful the college is to L.L. Bean for their continuous support to provide affordable higher education at SMCC and other Maine Community Colleges.

  “This student-centered building represents a transformational step forward for our students that will help Mainers reach their dreams and succeed,” Cantor stated, expressing his gratitude towards L.L. Bean for making all of this possible.

  At the ceremony, Katherine Norcott, a student at the Midcoast campus, expressed her happiness for the new campus hub.

  “With access to several top-of-the-line computers and designated rooms for tutoring, along with large tables and couches for study groups to congregate at; with a place to grab a healthy snack and a coffee when we need to recharge, is something that not only our generation will benefit from but the future SMCC students.” She then went on to offer her – on behalf of the student body – personal thanks for the donations that made the building possible. “We the students of SMCC can personally thank you for this generous and monumental donation that made this building, this learning center – our future – a possibility.”

  It is clear that everyone is proud of what this building represents, L.L. Bean chairman Shawn Gorman says.

  “You can’t believe how pleased I am to see the L.L. Bean name on this building. There’s no better investment than in your community and your children.”

  The donations that made this building possible weren’t seen only as a contribution to a mere building but contributions to the future generations on Maine. SMCC provides affordable, quality education to students in Maine, and because of the repeated donations from L.L. Bean, this continues to be possible.

  The L.L. Bean Learning Commons and Science Center will help students in their success and put them on track to graduate on time with the degree they want. The center provides students with an easy way to be successful and fosters a sense of community at the same time.

  Furthermore, this building greatly improves the status of the Midcoast Campus, bringing it forward into the world of technology and giving it a selling point that will possibly even make students choose to attend there instead of other community colleges. It will impact each and every student that attends the Midcoast campus, and it will continue to do so each and every year thanks to the gracious donations from L.L. Bean and Leon and his wife.