Last college to be named after long time donors

The last of the six colleges on campus has officially received a name, McCoy College of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, is named after long-time donors of 31 years, James and Vicki McCoy.

“The McCoy’s have given so that we as a university can give,” Suzanne Shipley, university president, said.

On Aug. 29, friends of the McCoy family filed into Bolin Room 100 to show support for the McCoy family at the dedication ceremony, some 170 friends, faculty and students in attended.

“The engineering program would not have started without Mr. and Mrs. McCoy’s help,” Anthony Vidmar said, vice president of university advancement and public affairs. “It really goes back to that first gift in 1987.”

Alexandria Stevenson, a graduate student in Kimbell School of Geosciences, mentions her graduation in December 2017 and current status as a student.

“If it wasn’t for MSU, my classmates and my professors, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the things that I have,” Stevenson said.

Kim Hoang, a biology, chemistry, and mathematics triple major, expressed her excitement for the new spaces and the ways that they will expand on her college experience.

“MSU has become another home for me,” Hoang said, “I find myself up here more than I find myself at home.”

Rojitha Goonesekere, a senior in the McCoy School of Engineering, said that he was awarded an opportunity to pursue his love of engineering with financial support.

“As a student in MSU, I have the privilege of being in an environment that champions innovation and creativity,” Goonesekere said.

Shelley Sweatt, MSU Board of Regents member, thanked the McCoys for supporting the Texhoma community.

“I’m also quite thankful that while Jim (James) and Vicki McCoy can live anywhere else in the world, they choose to live in Wichita Falls,” Sweatt said.

The crowd milled out of the doorway, into the adjoining hall, and watched as Vicki McCoy unveiled the dedication plaque.  She smiled as she viewed the plaque for the first time.