Ellie McMurry Classroom dedicated |
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Thanks to a $250,000 gift from Doug and Susan Samuelson, classroom 229 EA in the College of Education Annex Building was named the Ellie McMurry Classroom in honor of Susan’s mother Ellie McMurry. UW President Tom Buchanan said, “We could not honor Ellie, nor could we have completed this project, without the generosity of her daughter, Susan McMurry Samuelson and Susan’s husband Doug.”
“One of the lessons that Ellie must have taught her daughter was the importance of investing in the future of our children and the future of our state, and we want to thank you very, very much for making this possible,” said Buchanan.
When renovations to the building are complete, more than 90 percent of the College of Education's instruction will take place in the new Education Classroom Building, adjacent to the existing College of Education facility. Plans are being developed for an entrance and a covered walkway connecting the Education Classroom and the College of Education.
Landscaping and the site work needed to transform a parking lot into accessible curbs and sidewalks are ongoing at the facility. In the classrooms, each teaching station includes a computer, document camera, a ceiling-mounted projector with video and sound capability and an interactive wall-mounted white board that interfaces with the computer.
Lisa Esquibel, a College of Education student and a former first grade student of Susan Samuelson’s at Lebhart elementary in Cheyenne, was plugged into the dedication by way of video. She spoke with glowing words about her fondness for Susan and said Susan was a teacher that made an impact in her life.
After learning about Esquibel’s accomplishments and goals of always wanting to be a teacher, College of Education Dean Patricia McClurg said, this illustrates how the impact of one personmultiplied many times over, can have such a big influence. “I think it’s hard to measure the influence that has happened because of Ellie McMurry,” McClurg stated.
Susan Samuelson was an exemplary teacher at Lebhart elementary school in Cheyenne for 24 years, McClurg explained. “Susan’s tireless work in the community, serving on numerous boards, and contributing in many waysI think that’s a reward for Ellie’s work,” she said.
“My mom was a very interesting person, she volunteered for all those years at the day care center and she used to always impress upon us that if you’re having a bad day, go out and help somebody, and that’s what she didwe owe it to my mother and father that we were able to grow up with the love for education that all of us have and the generosity,” explained Susan.
“I remember sometimes when mother would have a bad day, she would go harass people at the banks, and business people, and one day she collected $800 for tricycles for the day care center. She was a great inspiration to all of us. I’m the person I am because of the parents I had and the life they demonstrated for me, so I was thrilled to do this,” Susan expressed. “Children are 100 percent of our future, so we need to train our teachers with the best facilities and materials we have to keep good teachers.”
“I know they will make good use of this facility for many, many years to come,” said Buchanan of the College of Education’s faculty and staff. “Outstanding facilities are great, but it’s really what happens inside the classroom that matters; that’s what makes a great institution,” he said.
During the dedication ceremony McClurg read the text displayed on the plaque placed outside the classroom, which states “This room is named in honor of Susan Samuelson’s mother, the first and best teacher she ever had, and recognizes Ellie McMurry’s involvement in the early days of the Casper Day Care Center, which is now the Natrona County Child Development Center.
Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006
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