Pasco-Hernando State College celebrated the formal dedication of its fifth full-service satellite campus, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, with a ceremony at the campus on April 2.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)
About 400 to 450 guests mingled, toured the campus and enjoyed refreshments at the celebration. It honored the Porter family, who donated 60 acres of land for the campus, and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel for establishing an endowed scholarship.
“We certainly feel honored,” J.D. Porter said before the ceremony.
The family is especially gratified to play a role in promoting education, he added.
The opening of the campus signaled the first time in Wesley Chapel history that a student could attend preschool through college without leaving the Wesley Chapel community.
Porter said the new campus will play a significant role in the future of Wesley Chapel, as businesses will be able to take advantage of the college’s proximity to ensure that their workers keep current on new technologies. And students will benefit from the close relationship between the college and the business community.
He expects the college to continue to play an even larger role as time goes on.
The current buildings are on about six of the 60 acres the family donated, Porter noted.
Obviously, that leaves plenty of room for expansion.
Published April 9, 2014
