Center for Clinical Excellence opens
The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence Thursday afternoon on campus at Utah State University.
The opening ceremony for the building, which began construction in Sep. 7, 2016, included speeches from USU President Noelle Cockett, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and others. A choir of Edith Bowen elementary students also performed a song for the audience, gathered under a large white tent on the grass between the new building and Edith Bowen.
A choir of Edith Bowen elementary students also performed a song for the audience, gathered under a large white tent on the grass between the new building and Edith Bowen.
“This building is incredible on every level,” Cox said. “The architecture, the artwork, the garden space in the middle, all of it from bottom to top is just a first-rate building. And that’s great, but that doesn’t really matter.”
He said that what really mattered is what long-time Aggie Ross Peterson told him when he arrived for the event.
“‘You need to come back when all the people are gone and the kids are there,’” Peterson told Cox, “‘because there are miracles happening in this building every day.’”
Cox said the Sorenson center is unique because its purpose is to “make miracles happen” and to “improve the human condition.”
Cockett had no shortage of praise for the College of Education and Human Services during her speech. She pointed out that the CEHS has 21% of total USU enrollment — more than any other USU college — and also the most research funding. It also ranks in the top 10 national colleges of education and human services, Cockett pointed out.
“We’re very, very proud of what they do,” she said.
Cockett attributed much of the college’s success, especially the creation of the new center, to Dean Beth Foley.
Megan Nielsen Dean of Education Beth Foley hugs President of Utah State University Noelle Cockett.
“This truly would not have been done without Beth’s leadership,” Cockett said. “She made the dream of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence a reality.”
Foley denied being the star of the project, though, saying it was a team effort with many contributors.
“I love this college,” she said. “This building is not about me — it’s about everyone here.”
“Let’s go open this building!” Foley said excitedly at the end of her speech before she, Cockett, Cox and Sorenson Foundation board members cut the ribbon with “giant scissors,” as one elementary school choir member pointed out.
“This building has tons of different clinics and services for the community, which is really awesome,” said Deidra Thomas, the USU Student Association senator for CEHS. “We have people that can come in and, a lot of times, bring their kids in.”
Thomas, an elementary education major, said she was most excited for the new nursing facilities. Entering her second year as senator, she said she has tried to be a voice for the nursing program, advocating for a new place for it to call home. She also said she was excited for nursing students’ new opportunities for hands-on training experience.
“Basically, there are rooms set up that look like hospital rooms,” she said, “with awesome dummies that the students get to practice on.”
Joseph Sorenson, the president of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, also spoke to the audience. He said the center will be used for training students in audiology, speech pathology, kinesiology, marriage and family therapy, and that thousands of patients and families will be able to benefit from the center’s clinics.
People gathered for ribbon cutting ceremony for The Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence at Utah State University. Speakers included Dean of Education Beth Foley, President of Utah State University Noelle Cockett and Lieutenant Governor of Utah Spencer Cox.
“USU is recognized nationally for its outstanding education programs,” Sorenson said. “So when they approached us about this partnership and we considered its track record in this area, we quickly became convinced we should move forward.”
He added that the Sorenson family has always been an advocate for those with physical and cognitive disabilities.
“Utah State University will amplify that same work across the entire state of Utah and beyond,” he said.
Foley echoed positive expectations for the center, saying it “truly will secure the future for important work that will be done in health and human service research, education and community outreach.”
President Cockett smiled as she admired the new building and the people who showed up in support.
“Just incredible,” she said. “It’s a beautiful building too … just simply beautiful.”
@SpencerABurt