Maranatha dedicates new science hall facility

Thursday, August 26, 2004 1:23 PM CDT

Faculty, administration and friends of Maranatha Baptist Bible College gather Wednesday to formally dedicate the campus' new Hanneman Science and Nursing Building. Suzanne Tilghman, daughter of the building's namesake, and her daughter, Anna, explore a display case in the building's main corridor. (John Hart/Daily Times)

Four generations of the Hanneman family looked on as Maranatha Baptist Bible College dedicated its new science and nursing building on Wednesday.

The facility is named in honor of the late Dr. Robert Hanneman, a member of the board of trustees at Maranatha Baptist Bible College for many years.

A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Hanneman was named "researcher of the year" in 2001 by the national Potato Council and received a lifetime achievement award from Potato Grower magazine.

"Bob was a member of the European Potato Association and the Potato Association of America," College President David Jaspers said during the ceremony. "Many potato organizations actively sought his advice, and he served as an adviser on germplasm collection and enhancement for the International Potato Center. He also served as an academic adviser to 14 graduate students, four post-doctoral fellows and published over 70 peer-reviewed scientific papers."

When the Hannemans dedication picture was revealed, many people commented on his smile. Jaspers mentioned even in Hanneman's sickest moments, his smile was still a part of his life. He even joked that Hanneman slept with a smile.

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Hanneman Hall was the first academic building erected on the campus in the last 36 years, according to Jaspers.

"It was phenomenal how the construction of the building was squeezed to fit between academic semesters," Jaspers said. "We were cutting it close, but the building will be ready to welcome students back to school starting next Tuesday."

Jaspers stressed when people study the word of God, one cannot help but recognize there is so much about science in God's word. He finds it satisfying that so many young adults at Maranatha are serious about becoming students of science.

"All these years at Maranatha we wanted to be able to expand and teach students the wonders of science," Jaspers said. "With this beautiful new building, we now have the opportunity to do it."

The $570,000, 7,125-square-foot building includes:

- Four state-of-the-art classrooms for biology, ecology, nursing and elementary education.

- All classrooms connected for Internet capability to assist in instruction.

- A facility set up for 78 students.

- Biology lab designed for 24 students, including six sinks with gas and electric outlets and Internet capability.

- Nursing lab with five beds and teaching station for an individual class size of 12.

- Conference room and office space with six cubicles.

- Lab prep room with an autoclave sterilizer, refrigerator, sink and cabinets.

- Utility closet with a washer and dryer.

Maranatha plant manager Mike Lingle said the nursing program will begin in the fall of 2005 with a faculty that consists of three full-time science teachers, one part-time science teacher and a new nursing administrator.