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New wing to be named James and Coralie Centofanti Hall

�鶹ӰԺ President Lester A. Lefton accepted a $700,000 commitment from the James and Coralie Centofanti Foundation that will be used to complete the Health and Sciences Wing at �鶹ӰԺ at Salem. Pending approval by the �鶹ӰԺ State Board of Trustees, the wing will be named the James and Coralie Centofanti Hall.

The multimillion-dollar Health and Sciences Wing opened in September 2011 and features state-of-the-art facilities on the first floor, including dedicated spaces for nursing and radiology instruction, a conference room, bookstore and centralized classrooms. The second floor of the wing remains unfinished; therefore, the Centofanti Foundation donation will be used to transform the 9,000-square-foot shell into hands-on science laboratories and additional classrooms for biology, chemistry and other science-related studies.

“�鶹ӰԺ State is committed to expanding learning opportunities that allow our graduates to pursue long-term careers in our communities,” Lefton says. “The James and Coralie Centofanti Foundation gift will help �鶹ӰԺ State Salem expand these opportunities. We are grateful for community partners like the Centofanti Foundation.”

The initial renovation of the wing began in 2010 and converted an underutilized gymnasium into an additional 16,000 square feet of learning space for �鶹ӰԺ State Salem. Contributions to help finance the kickoff of these renovations were received from Salem Community Hospital, the Salem Community Foundation, the Pearce Foundation and more than 50 private individuals and families.

“We look to support initiatives that will foster a better tomorrow,” says David Centofanti, son of James and Coralie Centofanti. “This hall is a needed expansion that will help students grow and learn in an environment that will make them better healthcare workers.”

James Centofanti’s brother, Joe, also was on hand for the presentation to �鶹ӰԺ State. “My brother would be proud to know that this gift will make many local communities stronger,” he says. “Jim and his wife, Coralie, believed in giving back, the power of philanthropy and the importance of learning. This gift will help prepare students to fill important professional roles in our community. �鶹ӰԺ State Salem students demonstrate the work ethic that Jim believed was essential to success in any field.”

During the next several months, officials at �鶹ӰԺ State Salem will work with the Office of the University Architect to develop a timeline to begin construction.

The �鶹ӰԺ State Columbiana County campuses, which include �鶹ӰԺ State Salem and �鶹ӰԺ at East Liverpool, are home to more than 2,200 students and offer 27 degree programs. For more information about the �鶹ӰԺ State Columbiana County campuses, visit .