Gerstacker Foundation Provides Alma With a $1 Million Grant
Alma College has been awarded $1 Million from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland for construction and maintenance costs of Alma’s new environmentally-sustainable residence hall.
Wright Hall, which opened in January 2005, is a living and learning facility designed to educate students on the importance of being good stewards of the world’s resources, an integral part of Alma’s mission statement. Built on the site of one of the College’s first residence halls of the same name, students shaped the environmental design and educational philosophy of the building.
Named after the College’s founder Ammi W. Wright, the new Wright Hall, just like the original residence hall, is a central location for student programs, dining and activities. Residents of the apartment-style complex determine the community atmosphere and have increased options for decisions about meals, facility maintenance and resource management.
“This grant will have a significant impact on the ability of Wright Hall to provide the life and educational experiences of our students,” Alma President Dr. Saundra J. Tracy said. “Wright Hall will be a wonderful environment for the community contributions our students make as alumni in Michigan and beyond.”
Alma’s relationship with the Gerstacker Foundation began in the late 1950s and has resulted in more than $3.5 million dollars for scholarships, endowments and contributions to building facilities. The College administration intends to name the first floor lobby of Wright Hall and the lobby’s computerized energy monitoring system in honor of the foundation.
