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Ribbon cutting held for new Lincoln University building
SIKESTON — Cloudy conditions on Friday couldn’t dampen the spirits of those in attendance at the ribbon cutting for Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s new Sikeston office.
Located at 214 Lincoln St. (formerly Felker Street), the new facility includes a multipurpose room with a stage; computer lab, five offices for staff, conference room, a classroom, and there are plans to have a community garden.
Dr. John B. Mosley, interim president of Lincoln University provided opening remarks at the ceremony following his introduction by Dr. Majed El-Dweik, dean of Lincoln University’s College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Services.
“What a day for Lincoln University, and it’s great to see this community come out and celebrate a part of this university that is doing some tremendous work in this area,” Mosley said.
Mosley, who said this was his first time in Sikeston, noted the new building actually opened in the summer.
“That’s good because now we’ve got stories to already tell about it because the number of young people that entered these doors this summer — and the lives that were influenced because of the work that was done here — will continue to grow,” Mosley said. “And this community has already seen what’s possible because of this facility’s existence and because of the relationship with Lincoln University.”
Mosley also recognized State Rep. Jamie Burger, who was present for the occasion, and thanked him for his work to ensure the university receives its land-grant match.
“This project is just one more example of what is possible with continued support through the land-grant,” Mosley said. “For those that don’t know, we’re in a constant battle to receive our land-grant funding. We receive money from the federal government because we’re an 1890 land-grant institution.”
As a result, the state has to match at least 50% of that, he said.
“We’re working to get the state to match 100% of that,” Mosley said. “…I know when you’re in a state as big as this and you have one flagship state university, of which I now have a degree – and my tagline is: ‘You can support Mizzou and still be true blue.’ And so Mizzou (University of Missouri) doesn’t have this fight on an annual basis. Theirs is matched, and so with the help of Rep. Burger and many of his colleagues, we’re going to continue to fight that fight.”
Mosley also acknowledged El-Dweik, Sikeston City Manager J.D. Douglass, and LU alum who were in attendance. Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director James McMillen and several DPS officers, Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Dr. Tony Robinson, Southeast Missouri State University President Carols Vargos, Missouri State Highway Patrol officers and many others from the community.
“Thank you for all that you do and the support you give our extension site down here in the Bootheel,” Mosley told the crowd.
Brenda Robinson-Echols, LUCE regional coordinator in Southeast Missouri, then took the stage.
“My heart is overflowing right now. I’m gonna try not to cry because this has been a long time coming — a long time coming,” Robinson-Echols said.
She recalled how LUCE in Sikeston started in 2003.
“We didn’t have a place to work out of so Felecia Anderson (LUCE youth at-risk specialist) and I started our programs in Roberta Rowe Park, which is about five blocks from here,” Robinson-Echols said. “We were in the hot sun from sun up to sun down; we had to clean off the parking lot every morning... but Felecia and I were determined to make a difference in the lives of kids in Sikeston, Missouri.”
From there, Mission Missouri in Sikeston allowed LUCE to use its facility for a couple years and then they went from church to church to the old Lincoln building, which is two blocks from here, Robinson-Echols said.
“We had programs there for several years and then over to Cornerstone Baptist Church and had programs there for seven or eight ears and then — finally—we have our own (building),” she said.
Applause erupted from the crowd.
“We have our own — and I am so glad,” Robinson-Echols said. “I look forward to doing programs for this area for many years to come.
She continued: “I’m just overwhelmed by the number of people who came out to support us, and I have a lot of friends and old classmates here — and thank you all for your support and continued support.”
At the request of Robinson-Echols, Tiara Riggs-Butler, LUCE-Sikeston secretary and program assistant, and Pershard Owens, LUCE-Sikeston area educator, then took the stage to perform a duet.
During Friday’s ceremony, the LUCE youth choir directed by Owens also performed.
El-Dweik along with Yvonne Matthews, associate administrator of the cooperative extension, provided an overview of the programs and offerings at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension.
LUCE-Sikeston’s target audience is underserved youth, families and adults in Scott, New Madrid, and Mississippi counties in the Bootheel region of Missouri. Programs focus on four pillars: Academic Achievement, Abstinence Education, Childhood Obesity Reduction, Leadership/Entrepreneurship
Programs offered include: After School Tutorial, Seniors Moving On, Step Up Leadership Academy, Youth Futures, Summer Enrichment, Expanded Food and Nutrition Program, Straight Talk Teen Talk and Job Readiness.
When Friday’s ceremony was over, Robinson-Echols was overwhelmed with joy as she was congratulated on the new building by one attendee after another.
She said: “The dream has finally been realized.”