Dixie State University dedicates Snow Science Center

ST. GEORGE – Dixie State University officially dedicated the institution’s first new campus building in its university era. The new Edward H. and Idonna E. Snow Science Center was dedicated in a special ceremony held Friday morning. A near-capacity crowd attended the ceremony at the new Snow Science Center, including Dr. Edward H. Snow, his wife, Idonna E. Snow and members of the Snow family, along with civic leaders and DSU students, faculty and staff. In addition, representatives from Westland Construction, CRSA Architecture, Utah State Department of Facilities and Construction Management, and benefactors and friends of DSU were in attendance.

“This science laboratory complex would not have been possible without the generosity of the Snow family,” DSU President Stephen D. Nadauld said. “Science is such a very valuable part of our society and we are very, very grateful.”

Snow, who met his wife at Dixie College in a chemistry class coincidentally enough, spoke of how he was reminded about his time as a student at Dixie when he walked through the new laboratories prior to the ceremony. He added that when DSU relocated its library to the new Holland Centennial Commons, he was excited at the opportunity the newly vacated space would give Dixie State to enhance the institution’s sciences programs.

As he did a year ago at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Science Center, Snow reiterated the importance of education in the fields of science and technology, noting that today’s students should be encouraged to pursue educational opportunities in the world of science and technology for, as he said, to “maintain the United States place in the world and to maintain our standard of living” in the face of global competition.

“The large fraction of the jobs in the U.S. and all over the world are now requiring scientific and technical knowledge,” Snow said. “We hope this building will enable Dixie State to make a significant contribution to filling that need. We are very fortunate that we could give something back to the community.”

The new two-story Edward H. and Idonna E. Snow Science Building features 10,000-square-feet of science labs for the physical sciences department, including classroom space for all of Dixie State’s chemistry, geology and geography courses. In addition, the building is designed to introduce natural light into all labs and an entry atrium that utilizes natural day lighting.

The top floor of the facility includes an organic chemistry lab, general chemistry lab and a chemical stockroom and storage room. The building also houses 11 fume hoods for science study, research and experimentation. The lower floor of the building currently houses a geology lab, geology classroom and storage. In addition, the lower floor area has been constructed to be the future home for an analytical chemistry laboratory area and classroom, while the center area is split into several rooms, which will eventual house an oven room, a weigh center, and instruments of many types, including an electron microscope and mass spectrometer.

“Today we dedicated a structure with the hope that lives will be improved and students will be better able to meet future challenges in the sciences,” said. Dr. Victor Hasfurther, DSU Dean of Science and Technology. “Our faculty, staff and students in the field of science now can better learn and have greater experiences through modern laboratory facilities.”

For more information on Dixie State University’s physical sciences department or the new Snow Science Center, please contact DSU Dean of Science and Technology Dr. Victor Hasfurther at 435-652-7861 or hasfurther@dixie.edu.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

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