Westlake Chemical Presents Donation for student study center to McNeese College of Engineering and Computer Science

The McNeese State University College of Engineering and Computer Science has received a donation of $185,000 from Westlake Chemical to establish a study center for its students.

“Westlake Chemical has had a long standing commitment to McNeese State University and the donation to the study center for the College of Engineering and Computer Science continues to cultivate that relationship. We believe the study center will be a tremendous asset for the students and the university for years to come,” said Wayne Ahrens, vice president of Region One for Westlake Chemical.

“The student study center is a place designed to support the academic success of our engineering and computer science majors,” said Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college. “We are very appreciative of this generous donation and the continued partnership McNeese has with Westlake Chemical.”

Westlake Chemical presented a $185,000 donation to McNeese State University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science through the McNeese Foundation to establish a student study center. On hand for the presentation are from left Curtis Brescher, plant manager of Westlake North and South, Wayne Ahrens, Westlake Chemical vice president of Region One, McNeese President Dr. Daryl Burckel, Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, college dean, and Joe Andrepont, principal-community and governmental affairs at Westlake Chemical.

Since its construction in 1983, Drew Hall has housed the college, which today serves about 1,100 students in both its undergraduate and graduate programs.

“After talking with our students, we saw a need to establish a study center within Drew Hall,” explained Kiritsis. “Having this dedicated center will not only provide our engineering and computer science students with a place where they can do homework, socialize, prepare and rehearse presentations, and have meetings, lectures and other events but it will also include the technology they need that is conducive to learning.”

The study center will be constructed in the east and west courtyards adjacent to Drew Hall, according to Kiritsis. He expects the college to break ground for the center’s construction mid-summer of this year.

The center will include carpeted floors, comfortable furniture, an electronic messaging center, wall-mounted whiteboards, computers, printers and audiovisual equipment available for student use.

“We believe that this facility will not only be beneficial to our existing students, but will also help the college recruit future students to our programs,” he said.