Members of the Maria College community and distinguished guests participated in the dedication of the Frank E. O’Brien, Jr. Student Support Center on Thursday, September 21. The event, which took place outside Mercy Hall, was part of a weeklong celebration, Mercy Week, commemorating Maria’s heritage as a Sisters of Mercy institution and the first Sister of Mercy, Catherine McAuley.
In addition to the unveiling of the new external sign, “Frank E. O’Brien, Jr. Student Support Center”, the College presented a new donor wall recognizing those individuals who helped make the Center a reality. The event also included the official naming of rooms inside the Center to honor individuals—past and present—who have made important contributions to shaping and advancing the Maria mission.
The Tutoring Center inside the student support center is named for former trustee and longtime friend and benefactor, Mary Beth O’Brien, and the Student Support Suite for, Donald S. Rubin, who served alongside Frank O’Brien as vice chair of the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years.
The campaign to establish the Frank E. O’Brien, Jr. Student Support Center was led by Frank’s daughter, Maureen O’Brien, who is a member of the Board of Trustees and serves as chair of the advancement committee. Maureen, together with her husband, Dr. Paul Vogt, her mother Mary Beth and sisters Constance, Kathleen, Cara and Patricia, provided the initial lead gifts to launch the effort.
Read more about Center and view a photo gallery from the September 21, 2017 dedication ceremony.