Gulf Coast State College held a dedication ceremony for the Charles Hilton Center for Advanced Technology and Hospitality Management and honored the Hilton Family on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
“We are delighted to dedicate our Advanced Technology Center in honor of Charles Hilton and his family,” said Dr. John Holdnak, President of Gulf Coast State College. “His many efforts in promoting and growing this region resulted in the rich legacy we all continue to benefit from today. Thanks to the incredible generosity and ongoing vision of Ms. Julie Hilton and her family, we are delighted to rename one of our most prestigious and impactful buildings at the college after Charles Hilton.”
The Charles Hilton Center for Advanced Technology and Hospitality Management, formerly known as the Advanced Technology Center, was built in 2013 and houses GCSC’s business, manufacturing, multimedia, and STEM programs. The building was established with the future in mind, emphasizing hands-on learning and innovation.
“We are really celebrating Bay County and Northwest Florida because Charles Hilton’s life reflects the growth of our community and the people who have built it,” said Ms. Julie Hilton. “What an honor for GCSC to host the dedication, and an even greater honor will be the continuation of the Charles Hilton family’s legacy with the development of a premier Hilton Hospitality Management and Tourism Program to support our number one private industry!”
Ms. Julie Hilton recently gifted $2 million to the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at GCSC, a program housed in the Charles Hilton Center for Advanced Technology and Hospitality Management, and $500 thousand to the Gulf Coast Guarantee, a GCSC scholarship program benefitting high school graduates from Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. Her generous investment will facilitate the growth and betterment of GCSC, and directly support the local workforce and economy through GCSC’s graduates.
“The GCSC Foundation joins the entire community in celebrating today’s building dedication,” said Dr. Sean Preston, GCSC Foundation Executive Director. “Influential members of the Bay County community were in attendance to help cut the ribbon and unveil the building’s new name. We also want to thank Former Speaker of the House Allan Bense for delivering a heart-felt keynote address about Mr. Charlie Hilton and his many contributions to our amazing community.”
To learn more about the Charles Hilton Center for Advanced Technology and Hospitality Management, please visit gulfcoast.edu.
POSTED IN: COMMUNITY NEWS, EDUCATION, GCSC
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up