April 3, 2007

Presbyterian College announced today that an Atlanta, Ga., couple has given $4 million to the college's $160 million "The Promise and the Challenge" campaign in support of science and visual arts.

E.G. Lassiter, a 1969 graduate, and his wife Marianne, who also attended PC, recently has donated $2.5 million towards Phase I construction of a new $12 million addition to and renovation of PC's Richardson Science Hall. They have also donated $1.5 million to benefit the college's visual arts programs, as well.

The president of RSUI Group Inc. of Atlanta and a member of the college board of trustees, Lassiter said he is proud to see PC make a lasting commitment to improving science instruction for many years to come.

"Richardson Hall was new when I was a student," he said. "In the meantime, there have been many changes and advances in science and technology and it is important that we keep in touch with them so we can offer the best for every one of our students."

For the Lassiters, the donations to PC represent a family commitment to the college. Both of their children – Rich Lassister, a 1998 graduate, and Anne Marie Johnson, who graduated in 1999 – are also PC alumni. Now a doctor practicing emergency medicine in Phoenix, Ariz., Rich obviously spent many hours in Richardson as an undergraduate, while Anne Marie turned to the graphic arts field after earning a degree in art.

Both received an excellent foundation at PC, said Lassiter, adding that he and his wife wanted to express their sense of gratitude by aiding the two programs that affected their children the most.

In the case of science, Lassiter and others at PC – including faculty and administrators – acknowledge that the college is overdue for an updated facility. The new addition to Richardson Science Hall will add 22,250 square feet to the existing 55,000 square foot facility to address a critical lack of space within PC's biology department.

The new wing for biology will contain six new 1,200 square foot laboratories for a variety of classes in botany, parasitology, anatomy, paleontology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry. The wing will contain a wet lab, a life sciences core lab – including a tissue culture and cold room – three preparatory labs, and four research labs.

"It is humbling to have Mr. Lassiter make this generous gift to the college in support of our biology program," said professor of biology Dr. Ron Zimmerman. "This new building will usher in a new era of biology at Presbyterian College. We will have laboratories specialized for different courses and we will be able to offer PC students better learning experiences in our laboratory classes.

"Students learn about biology by doing biology, not by reading about it in a textbook.  This new facility will give us space for students and faculty to do cooperative research projects and to do science."

The Lassiters and the college also share hopes that visual arts can benefit from future expansion. Lassiter said he and his family are happy to take an active part to enhance facilities and instruction in those areas.

"It gives me a sense of accomplishment as a trustee to see this project happen," he said. "As an alumnus, it also makes me proud – and I'm happy we were in a position as a family to make a contribution. I'm excited about it and I'm excited to see it finally happen."

PC officials, in turn, are just as excited to see both a trustee and alumnus rise to the occasion in aid of the college.

"E.G. and Marianne Lassiter represent the best of the PC spirit and commitment to their alma mater," said college president Dr. John Griffith. "Their love of PC, coupled with their desire to support an educational institution whose mission focuses on producing servant leaders, has led them to do this magnificent thing. This ability to lead by example is shared across the PC family, and their gifts have spurred others to do the same.  We are most grateful to the Lassiters for continuing to give so much of themselves to PC."

David Atchley, PC's vice president for advancement, agreed.

"A remarkable alumnus has made a remarkable contribution to his alma mater -- and helped secure the future for science and art studies at Presbyterian College," he said. "The Lassisters' leadership and generosity has been essential to the college's mission to prepare future leaders and we all salute them for their continuing support of it."

Presbyterian College broke ground on the new wing on April 4, 2006. Construction is expected to be complete in early 2008. The expansion of Richardson Science Hall is part of the largest capital fundraising project PC has ever undertaken – the $160 million The Promise and The Challenge campaign. The college also hopes to add a second new wing to Richardson to address anticipated needs for the Chemistry Department.

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