 In response to a growing desire
for residents of the region to have access to higher education,
a group of forward-thinking citizens from across Auglaize,
Darke, Mercer, and Van Wert Counties organized early in 1962.
The organization became officially incorporated as the Western
Ohio Educational Foundation (WOEF). Its sole purpose was
to obtain higher education opportunities for the residents
of
Western Ohio. After establishing a cooperative agreement
with Ohio Northern University, the Western Ohio Educational
Foundation
officially opened its doors in the fall of 1962. With enrollment
at 285 students, more than twice the number anticipated,
the newly established foundation had begun the process whereby
the communities’ citizens could have immediate access
to a college degree.
At first, classes were held in a local
high school, but as interest in the college continued to
build, the WOEF Board
was challenged to provide additional space and faculty
for a growing number of students. Through a series of successful
fund drives, the WOEF Board assured the growth of the college
through the purchase of a vacant public school building
in
Celina. With the need for immediate facilities now secure,
college enrollment continued to increase. As the community
continued to require additional educational offerings,
the WOEF Board voted in 1969 for the college to become fully
affiliated with Wright State University as its sole branch
campus.
The Wright State University –Western Ohio
Branch Campus, as it was called then, quickly reached
maximum student capacity
for the building so recently purchased. During a campus
visit in 1969, Governor James A. Rhodes recognized these “growing
pains.” Perceiving strong community support, Governor
Rhodes issued yet another challenge to the young institution: “Find
and purchase suitable land and the state will appropriate
$2 million for a new building.” With the WOEF Board’s
initiative, a massive fund-raising appeal spread rapidly
throughout the surrounding communities. This successful
campaign quickly
led to the acquisition of a 173-acre site for the new
campus on the northern shores of Grand Lake St. Marys.
The first
building on campus was Dwyer Hall, named in recognition
of Minnie Dwyer’s
generous support and contains laboratories, classrooms,
faculty and administrative offices, an auditorium, and
student service
facilities.
Ground was broken in 1979 to expand the facilities
for inclusion of additional two-year technical programs.
Andrews Hall continues
to house the national award-winning Office Information
Systems programs. Trenary was also added at that time,
and currently
houses the campus library. These buildings were named
for the Andrews and Trenary families in recognition
of their
generous
support. The dedication of these two buildings in September
1980 highlighted the Lake Campus’s historic responsiveness
to local needs and the community’s active involvement.
The Crown Amphitheatre and the marina were added in 1987,
taking advantage of the Lake Campus beautiful setting
and proximity
to Grand Lake St. Marys, and adding a further dimension
to the many possibilities at Wright State University-Lake
Campus. |
