December 22, 2000

Stetson University Receives Congressional Holiday Gift

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman John L. Mica (R-Winter Park) today announced that Stetson University will receive a $276,000 federal appropriation in legislation signed into law this week. The funds will be used for the renovation of Sage Hall, Stetson’s science complex.

"Updating and modernizing Sage Hall will help maintain Stetson’s state and national leadership in the areas of the physical and biological sciences," Mica said. "This is a good beginning for a cooperative funding effort between the federal government and private sources, with possible future assistance from the State."

Built almost 35 years ago with federal and private funds, Sage Hall houses the biology, chemistry and physics departments at Stetson, located in DeLand. The renovation effort is projected to extend over a five-year period with a total cost of $20 million. Funding is anticipated from university assets and State, federal and private sector sources.

"With this federal assistance, Stetson University will be better equipped to prepare our students with modernized laboratory facilities and cutting-edge scientific research," Mica concluded.

The funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2001 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Act, the final budget agreement between the President and the 106^th Congress.

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