$12.5 million educational facility opens in Kirksville

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (Sept. 20, 2007) – A. T. Still University held its grand opening ceremony for the Connell Information Technologies Center (Connell Center) Thursday, September 20, 2007. Nearly 300 people including State Representative Rebecca McClanahan and Mayor Martha Rowe were in attendance at the event which included a traditional ribbon cutting and dinner.

The 55,748 square foot Connell Center is a high-tech medical education facility boasting a new osteopathic manipulative medicine laboratory with 100 patient tables; six human patient simulators; a wireless library with video-audio center and a student study complex. More than 80 miles of fiber optic cable were used in the building.

“Without the help and financial contributions from the citizens of Kirksville this $12 million state-of-the –art facility would not have been possible,” said President James J. McGovern, Ph.D.

The building of the Connell Center was a genuine partnership between the good citizens of Kirksville and ATSU. Kirksville residents contributed nearly $800,000 far exceeding the requirements of a generous matching grant from the Kresge Foundation.

“The high-tech equipment we will get to use in the Connell Center played a big role in my decision to attend ATSU,” said Christina Hirt, first year medical student.

“The Connell Center is a remarkable resource and a symbol of what can be accomplished when we all work together,” said President McGovern.