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HCC Celebrates New SouthShore Center

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Hillsborough Community College officials and members of the South Shore community attended the ribbon cutting of HCC's new SouthShore Center on Nov. 14. From left are Glenn Dickman, Danita Dickman, Tammy Dickman, Dottie Dickman, George Keith, Gwendolyn Stephenson, Thomas Huggins, Glenna Dickman and Daniel Coton.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: November 26, 2008

RUSKIN - For Thomas Huggins, the humble beginnings of the region's newest community college hold the promise of a shining success story for the long-awaited campus and the students who pass through its doors.

"We believe it can become one of the greatest campuses in the state," Huggins, chairman of the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees, said at the recent grand opening of HCC's new SouthShore Center.

The campus opened in June and welcomed staff, students and the community to a grand opening Nov. 14. More than 50 HCC officials and members of the South Shore community attended the dedication and ribbon cutting and took tours of the new facility at 551 24th St. N.E., near Shell Point Road.

"It's an exciting day for us and it's something that we, the community, wanted," Huggins said. "The college felt there was a need for a campus in South County, and everyone pulled together to help make that a reality."

Based on previous enrollments at HCC's former SouthShore Center in the SunPoint shopping plaza in Ruskin, which closed in July, the school district expected about 150 students when the campus opened.

By the end of August, 1,500 students had enrolled, leading to the hiring of 34 part-time instructors to meet the demand. The college originally had 10 instructors.

The SouthShore Center is HCC's fifth campus.

"The opening of this campus is the result of a long-standing commitment to open our doors to south Hillsborough," said Gwendolyn Stephenson, HCC president.

The 55,000-square-foot facility includes 12 classrooms, six instructional labs, offices and a student services section. Work on the 60-acre, $16 million campus is scheduled to be completed in about 10 years and will include six buildings.

The SouthShore Center is the first community college in Florida designed and constructed as a green campus.

The facility was built to meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

For example, the campus parking lot has raised areas that allow water to run off into the ground, and the building's water reclamation design funnels rainwater from the roof through a channel that leads to a reservoir. The water is then filtered and used for irrigation and plumbing.

"We are truly committed to preserving the environment," Stephenson said. "I believe it's one of the most important things we can teach our kids."

Huggins, Stephenson and campus president George Keith were among the HCC officials who spoke during the dedication ceremony. The trio also unveiled a plaque dedicated to the Dickmans, one of Ruskin's founding families.

Faculty also praised the new facility.

"I come from a rural background, and I was the first person from my family to go to college," said algebra teacher Craig Hardesty. "Ruskin's off the beaten path, but we're dedicated to helping put this area on the map."

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555.

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