WEST PLAINS, Mo.– Everyone is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house celebration at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, to officially open the newly renovated Looney Hall at Missouri State University-West Plains.
The ceremony will take place in the parking lot on the south side of Looney Hall, 128 Garfield Ave., directly behind Drago College Store. The event also will include a demonstration of the allied health simulation lab and the dedication of the Mindy Lahey Hughston Room.
“We are excited to have Looney Hall functioning as a classroom and laboratory facility for our allied health programs,” said Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett. “The renovation project helped provide much needed classroom space to accommodate our overall student population growth, as well as future expansion of our allied health programs. Demand currently exceeds the number of seats we have available for our nursing program, which, when successfully completed, can provide graduates with good-paying jobs in this growing career field.”
Looney Hall recently underwent extensive renovations to convert the facility from the university’s one-stop student services center to classrooms and laboratory space for the university’s allied health programs, including nursing and respiratory care. Classes opened in the building in January following completion of the $700,000 project.
In addition to the renovation costs, the simulation lab was made possible with a $250,000 grant assisted by 8th District Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau), who is expected to attend and speak at the event. The human patient simulators provide realistic assessment data and patient reactions to a variety of medical situations. Thanks to Emerson’s efforts, university officials said, these simulated medical conditions will allow students to gain experience with a wide variety of clinical situations seen in health care settings, and the expanded clinical opportunities offered through the lab will allow for the opportunity of future growth in allied health programs, university officials explained.
The Mindy Lahey Hughston room, named in honor of a former nursing student who passed away following a courageous battle with cancer, will be made possible with a gift from the Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic family and is adjacent to the simulation lab. The room will be used as a classroom and technology center where students and community health professionals can observe work being done in the lab, officials said, adding they are grateful to Mary Sheid and the Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic staff for ensuring “Mindy’s spirit and memory will live on.” Sheid and members of the PTSC staff will attend the event, and Sheid is expected to offer remarks on behalf of the group.
Also attending the event will be Missouri State University System President James E. Cofer, Sr., who also will speak.
“We’re pleased that U.S. Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Mary Sheid and staff members from Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic and Dr. Cofer will be attending,” Bennett said. “We truly appreciate their continued support of our educational programs at Missouri State-West Plains.”