By Pouriya Soltani ‘22 and Sangjun Hornewer ’20
Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief
The Grand Opening of the Lillard Science Center represents more possibilities for the Lake Forest College community. Over 700 people gathered at the new center on Middle Campus to celebrate the Grand Opening on October 12.
The presentation began with opening remarks from President Schutt and messages of thanks to all those who contributed to the over $43 million project; principal donors John and Paula Lillard, who the building was named for, also made an appearance and spoke at the event. A variety of science experiments were displayed throughout the building on each floor, including freezing flowers with liquid nitrogen and an exposé of flowers documented in the Lake Forest Prairie Reserve.
Construction of the new building and renovation of the former Johnson building began in the summer of 2016. The new Lillard Science Center is now home to the following departments: biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, environmental studies, neuroscience, physics, and psychology.
With students coming into Lake Forest, structural changes are the first thing noted by alumni. Returning to campus for the Homecoming celebration, several alumni said that the addition of the Lillard Science Center is “the biggest change” that they have seen on campus. Alumni also noted that inside the classrooms, more technology facilitates a more modern approach to education. Charles ‘68 and Joan ‘68 Hudson noticed the similarity between the technological advancement of the resources in the Donnelley and Lee Library—the last major renovation on campus—and the Lillard Science Center.
The current students experience campus life differently than alumni did when they were students here. The increased technology and renovations to the College’s science center correlate with an anticipated increase in the number of students pursuing the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). The Hudsons also mentioned how, back in 1968, there were only “two physics students,” along with a couple of engineers who made up the science majors of the student body. Even recent alumni noted the change in schooling; Rich Bartolozzi ’86 said that students are “much more advanced, more prepared.” James Kidney ‘69—a former editor of The Stentor—agrees with Bartolozzi.
Alumni and current students bonded at the Grand Opening and embraced the new science center as a pivotal part of campus.
Pouriya Soltani and Sangjun Hornewer can be reached at soltanip@mx.lakeforest.edu and hornewersm@mx.lakeforest.edu.
