SUNY Plattsburgh Names New Building, Terrace and Conference Room

At its November meeting, the SUNY Plattsburgh College Council approved resolutions temporarily renaming the new business and computer science building, while giving permanent names to a conference room and terrace.

The building, which sits on the corner of Draper Avenue and Cornelia Street, will be named Au Sable Hall but may be renamed should a donor make a gift in accordance with the Campus Naming Opportunities Policy of the Plattsburgh College Foundation.

The move to name the building was made to facilitate communication.

Meanwhile, the name itself was chosen to honor the river valley, “renowned for its rich history as a working river for early settlers,” according to the resolution.

The choice also reflects a campus tradition of honoring local geographic features through building names like Adirondack, Champlain, Algonquin and Saranac.

The John and Mary Hopkins Terrace

A second resolution named the terrace on the second floor of the same building the John and Mary Hopkins Terrace, in honor of the parents of Kathy Hopkins MaGaw.

MaGaw, an alumna from the class of 1972, has served on the Plattsburgh College Foundation Board of Trustees for more than a decade. She is treasurer and chair of its Investment Committee; was co-chair of Bright with Promise, the college’s first comprehensive campaign; and was awarded the college’s highest honor — the Distinguished Service Award.

MaGaw recently pledged $250,000 in unrestricted funds to the foundation.

The Hermes Conference Room

Finally, the council moved to name the large, first-floor conference room in the new building in honor of Thomas and Marie Hermes.

The alumni couple has long supported SUNY Plattsburgh students through an endowed scholarship fund and has now pledged an additional $100,000 in unrestricted funds to the foundation.

Both the MaGaw and the Hermes gifts will be used to provide funding for scholarships and enhancements to academic, student life and career networking programs on campus.