Four years ago inAugust 2019, a signing ceremony between the City of Homestead and Miami Dade College (MDC) provided the first public notice of a visionary project.
A 60,000 square foot four-story StudentSuccess Center was to be built on the small parcel of land across from City Hall.
The array of services on the first and second floors would includeadmissions and registration, financial aid, a café, advisem*nt, the Honors College, student services, classrooms, and study rooms.
The third floor was to accommodate entrepreneurial programming for the small businesscommunity, with aspecialized focus onentrepreneurship,
economic and community development and the goal of enabling students to obtainworkforce and business skills necessary to succeed in the jobmarket.
The fourth floor would be devoted to dedicated conference space as well as an art gallery to showcase student, faculty, and local artists exhibits.
The groundbreaking that followed October 19, 2021 came with an ambitious schedule. While the schedule did require some adjustment, Tuesday, August 15, 2023, a large crowdgathered for the official ribbon cutting.
Heat wasn’t all that was shimmering in the air as Robert Parrondo, Vice-President, Information Technology, Miami Dade College, stepped to the podium in the role of Master of Ceremony. He greeted everyone for what would be a short program prior to the ribbon cutting and tours of the building.
MDC Homestead Campus President Dr. Oscar Loynaz thanked everyone, citing thearchitects and builders and many individuals who served in different capacities to make the day possible. “Thisbuilding represents an entry to everyone who wants to use Miami Dade College to further their education,” was central to his brief remarks.
Although the building was already in progress before the current administration, he expressesappreciation for their thoughts regarding changes and their support throughout the process. The building will be fully open Monday, August 21st.
MDC PresidentMadeline Pumariega was part of the groundbreaking ceremony, and her comments reflected the vision that has been brought about.
“Every campus dreams of a new building; it ushers in a specialexcitement,” she said.
It will serve as far more than an impressivebuilding. “What will happen here is this is where dream will become a reality. It will stand as a beacon of hope.”
She added the intent of interaction beyondacademics. “It will be a place of convening for ideas for the community.”
College, community, business, and political leaders will have a place to come together todiscuss and plan thefuture.
Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner gave a nod to the sultryconditions.
“This is one of those mornings that is somonumental, wordsalmost fail me and in the heat today, that’s okay.”
He reminded attendees fifty years have passed since the small meeting where it was decided to establish a Homestead Campus.
“This project is the culmination of fivedecades of commitment by Miami Dade College.”
In his recurring theme of Homestead as a“destination city,” heincluded the comment of, “Homestead is taking its rightful place as thecapital city of Deep South Dade.”
The new facility is another major step achieved as a result of strong partnering.
“There’s no way tounderestimate MDC’s commitment to bringing the building about.” he said in conclusion. “I look forward to another five decades of continuing cooperation.”
A tradition at these events is to include the Student Reflectionperspective. Jack Taks, President StudentGovernment Association Homestead Campus, is a nineteen-year-old Landscape Architect major who is in the Honors Program.
He spoke of how when he sees any space, heimmediately starts to think about what all it could be. Watching “the majestic facility being built” gave a sense of what can be made to happen and the value it will be to students.
“I’ve had the privilege of attending Homestead Campus and it’s been a life changing experience,” he said of his time on campus. “But it is the people of Homestead who breathe life into it;students, staff, and the people who live here.”
Executive VicePresident and ProvostDr. Malou Harrison has attended ribbon cuttings for other major building renovations over the past two years. She thanked Homestead for conveyance of the land.
“If not for the City we wouldn’t be here today,” she said. “The Homestead Campus is truly a legacy for South Dade.” As a thirty-year resident of the area, she explained her boundary for the term is Cutler Ridge and south.
The multiple major building projectsculminating with The Student Success Center have been for the purpose of expanding what the campus offers. She reiterated the goal ofproviding paths tosuccess that lead tosustainable jobs. “We will be training the employees businesses need.”
The moment hadarrived for the ribbon to be cut and the Master of Ceremony led the crowd count of, “Five, four, three, two, one,” to another round of applause. All four levels were open for tours and the conference center with a well-equipped Green Room andcaterer’s kitchen will seat a little more than 200 people.
Various degrees and certifications areavailable in the Miguel B. Fernandez Family School of Global Business, School of Engineering and Technology (EnTec), Eig Watson School of Aviation, Benjamin Leon School of Nursing, School of Education, School of Continuing Education & Professional Development, theHumanities and Social Sciences Department, and the Mathematics and Science Department.
To register or for more information about all MDC campuses andprograms of study, visit www.mdc.edu/enroll or call 237-8888.
