Robin Roberts has presented a grand gift to her alma mater, Southeastern Louisiana University. According to WWLTV, The Good Morning America co-anchor stood alongside Southeastern President William S. Wainwright and other administrators, as well as dozens of community members, to officially open the new Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center on Friday.
“It is good to be home and to walk around this campus that I can’t even recognize because it has just advanced over the years,” Roberts said, per WBRZ. “Here I am walking the campus with other students — everybody has a dream. Did I know mine would be realized? No. But I knew I had a better chance by being a student here at Southeastern.”
What are the features of the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center?
The 33,000-square-foot Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center features a newsroom, film studio and a multimedia studio, per AN17. The state-of-the-art facility is found inside D Vickers Hall, which was recently renovated.
“This building is beautiful,” Roberts said, per AN17. “It is stellar and exceeds all of my expectations.”
Southeastern journalism students will be able to edit, anchor and produce stories at the new facility, which is made possible with Roberts’ donations and state funds.
Roberts said SLU Vice President Wendy Lauderdale first approached her about the idea for the facility in 2018, but the building has turned out to be even more than what she imagined.
“I am so grateful I have been allowed this opportunity to share a gift with my Southeastern family,” Roberts said. “I love each and every one of y’all for what you represent, for what you instill (in students) and what you are doing to carry on what I and so many others before me have done for this university. We want the best for you and the best is yet to come.”
What are administrators saying about the Robin Roberts Broadcast Media Center at Southeastern Louisiana University?
As he stood with Roberts to open the new facility on Friday, President Wainwright said it’s a great day in the school’s history.
“Where we bear witness to the transformative power of education in recognition and honor of Robin Roberts,” Wainwright said, per AN17. “We gather to celebrate a private public partnership centered on innovation and development, which honors our past but lays the foundation for the next century of impact.”
Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed also raved about the historic day, saying it was not “only a good morning in America, it is a great morning.” Reed showed her appreciation for Roberts and D Vickers, who became the first English and speech teacher at the school in 1925.
“I don’t normally contradict a president but (Wainwright) pointed out that D Vickers and Robin Roberts are extraordinary people,” Reed said, per AN17. “I just want the record to reflect the fact they are extraordinary women.”