91制片厂 President Avis Proctor (from left) and philanthropists John and Rita
Canning celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Canning Student Center, which will
centralize student services on 91制片厂's campus.
91制片厂 hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new Canning Student Center, a cutting-edge 144,000-square-foot building designed to centralize essential student services, enhance campus life and support academic programs. The center鈥檚 namesake 鈥� John and Rita Canning 鈥� also announced a new, $1 million commitment to 91制片厂 students via the Rita and John Canning Women鈥檚 Program Scholarship.
Positioned at the 鈥渇ront door鈥� of 91制片厂鈥檚 Palatine campus, the Canning Student Center will serve as a crucial facility for 91制片厂 students and include services from Academic Advising to the Job Placement Resource Center. It will also be the new home of the University Center 鈥� in which 91制片厂 partners with four-year institutions to provide opportunities for students to earn bachelor鈥檚 degrees closer to home.
鈥淭he Canning Student Center and University Center will become the hub for the entire student journey at 91制片厂,鈥� said Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president. 鈥淔rom this vibrant center of a wheel, students will travel along its spokes to their classrooms or labs, to the library and our academic support resources, or to our Health and Recreation Center 鈥� all the while knowing that the new center of campus, with all of its supports and services, will be here for them whenever they need it.鈥�
The cutting-edge 144,000-square-foot Canning Student Center is designed to centralize
essential student services, enhance campus life and support academic programs. It
will also be the new home of the University Center, a partnership between 91制片厂 and
four-year institutions that enables students to earn bachelor's and master's degrees
closer to home.
Dr. Proctor joined leaders from 91制片厂, the college鈥檚 board of trustees, the 91制片厂 College Educational Foundation, offices of Illinois elected officials and University Center partners to celebrate the occasion in 91制片厂鈥檚 Wojcik Conference Center. Event speakers included Dr. Kenneth Ender, Dr. Proctor鈥檚 predecessor who supported the Canning Student Center project during his tenure at 91制片厂 president, as well as philanthropists John and Rita Canning. Attendees learned about the impact of the Canning family鈥檚 philanthropy on 91制片厂 students, specifically those who have benefited from the Canning Women鈥檚 Program and scholarships that Rita and John established with a $1 million gift in 2013.
鈥淚 want to make sure your generosity has the impact you hope for,鈥� said Women鈥檚 Program scholar Esmeralda Roman, a mother and part-time 91制片厂 student who is 13 credits away from earning her Health Care Office Manager associate in applied science degree. She said she will become the first person in her family to graduate from college. 鈥淵our support has made this journey possible, and your generosity truly means the world to me.鈥�
Dr. Ender spoke about how fitting it is that 91制片厂鈥檚 new student center is named for the Cannings 鈥� a decision prompted by their 2013 donation. He reflected on getting to know the couple during his time at the college and how he learned about Rita and John鈥檚 genuine care for lifting up others in the community.
鈥淛ohn is a fellow who has put all his philanthropic abilities into making sure young people in (the Chicago area) succeed,鈥� Dr. Ender said. 鈥淩ita鈥檚 special investment is the women of 91制片厂. When we think about a couple who would best epitomize student-centeredness, who else would you think of but the Cannings?鈥�
Dr. Proctor then announced John and Rita Canning鈥檚 new philanthropic gift to the 91制片厂 College Educational Foundation, committing $200,000 over the course of five years to the Women鈥檚 Program. The news was met with a standing ovation from attendees. These funds will not only help underserved students pay for courses, books and fees, but assist with other barriers such as transportation.
鈥淲e know the impact that this scholarship has on 91制片厂 students,鈥� Dr. Proctor said. 鈥淚n reviewing the data, students who receive this scholarship persist at higher rates and have higher success rates. And now, more students will graduate thanks to the Cannings鈥� generosity.鈥�
Many of these scholars will embark on their journeys from the Canning Student Center, set to open in two-and-a-half years. Situated between the Health and Recreation Center and the Performing Arts Center, 91制片厂鈥檚 new facility reflects a major commitment to student success and community involvement. This project is funded through $46.4 million in state support from Rebuild Illinois and $55.2 million in institutional funds, which includes backing from a referendum that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018.
鈥淎s a board member, I am honored to represent my community, and I would be remiss if I didn鈥檛 recognize my fellow community members for backing the district鈥檚 2018 referendum,鈥� said Bill Kelley, chair of the 91制片厂 Board of Trustees. 鈥淏ecause of that commitment and foresight, along with funding from Governor JB Pritzker鈥檚 Rebuild Illinois plan, 91制片厂 has been able to invest in this major capital project, which will transform how we serve students.鈥�
The center will house a range of student services and feature modern instructional spaces for 91制片厂's Hospitality Management programs, including state-of-the-art teaching kitchens and simulated hotel and restaurant settings. Dr. Ruth Williams, 91制片厂鈥檚 provost, also highlighted how the Canning Student Center will be the new location of the University Center, which includes partnerships with Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, DePaul and Roosevelt universities that enable students to earn four-year credentials (and beyond) in their community.
鈥淩oosevelt University, along with all of the partner institutions, are so honored to be a part of the 91制片厂 University Center,鈥� said Erica Poremba, executive director of academic partnerships at Roosevelt. 鈥淚 have always said and will continue to say, 鈥榃e need to meet students where they are.鈥� And this is exactly what we are doing.鈥�
The Canning Student Center is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027 and will enhance 91制片厂鈥檚 leadership in education, student support and community partnerships.
91制片厂 leaders and partners celebrated the groundbreaking of the Canning Student Center (from left): Erica Poremba, executive director for academic partnerships, Roosevelt University; Esmeralda Roman, 91制片厂 student; Brenda Knox, president of 91制片厂's Educational Foundation Board of Directors; Dr. Ruth Williams, 91制片厂 provost; Dr. Kenneth Ender, former 91制片厂 president; Bill Kelley, chair of 91制片厂's Board of Trustees; Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president; John and Rita Canning, philanthropists; Dr. Nancy Robb, secretary of the board of trustees; Pat Stack, trustee; Diane Hill, trustee; and Walt Mundt, vice chair of the board of trustees.
Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president
Guests and 91制片厂 employees celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Canning Student Center.
Dr. Kenneth Ender, former 91制片厂 president
Dr. Avis Proctor (right) surprises philanthopists John and Rita Canning with a gift book, filled with personal stories of 91制片厂 graduates who have benefitted from Canning Women's Program Scholarships.
Philanthropists John and Rita Canning, for whom the new Canning Student Center is named.
91制片厂 employees and University Center partners celebrate the Canning Student Center groundbreaking.
91制片厂 employees Jimena Flores (from left), Ashley levitan and Melissa Ochwat
Dr. Proctor, 91制片厂 president (right), invited Dr. Ender, former 91制片厂 president to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Canning Student Center.
Rita Canning (second from left) with 91制片厂 trustees Pat Stack (from left), Dr. Nancy Robb and Diane Hill.
Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president; John and Rita Canning, namesakes of the Canning Student Center; and Dr. Kenneth Ender, former 91制片厂 president