HSU Insider

Holland Health Sciences Building Dedication Planned

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted February 4, 2008 2:38 PM
• 0 Comments

The Holland Health Science Building, the new home of the Abilene Independent School District’s Holland Medical High School, will be formally dedicated Thursday, Feb 7, at 10:00 a.m. on the Hardin-Simmons University Campus.

Texas State Representative Susan King joins HSU President Dr. Craig Turner, AISD Superintendant Dr. David Polnick, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Red Coats to honor David “Scotty� Holland, who provided the naming gift for the facility in this unique collaboration between a university and public school district. Holland, an HSU alumnus and athlete, went on to become president and CEO of Pennzoil Exploration and Production Company, and later endowed the Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics. The Dodge Jones Foundation, Mabee Foundation, Shelton Family Foundation, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, and other HSU donors also made significant contributions to the project.

First day of classes in the new Holland High School

The magnet school is a first-of-its-kind project built entirely by the University, on the University campus, to benefit students of the AISD Health Science Technology Program. The two academic classrooms and four labs on the first floor of the 22,000 square foot building are maintained by Hardin-Simmons University, and AISD provides curriculum, technology, and staffing. The second floor of the building houses additional lab space for HSU science and mathematics students.

As Abilene and the surrounding areas continue to expand and develop, it is becoming increasingly necessary to have the means to provide the local medical industry with qualified and trained healthcare professionals. Both HSU and AISD recognize the need to implement mechanisms to train and prepare students to enter the local healthcare industry.

Classes began Jan 7 for the 200 students currently enrolled in the Abilene and Cooper High School Health Science Technology Program. Students completing courses of study can receive industry-recognized certifications as pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians--basic, phlebotomy technicians, and certified nurse aides, as well as several levels of first aid and CPR. Recent graduates of the program are currently enrolled in pre-medical and pre-pharmacy programs throughout the country, including Johns-Hopkins University, Baylor University, and the Honors Program at Texas Tech University.

Located at the corner of Cedar Street and Vogel Avenue, the ribbon-cutting will occur on the southern-most steps at the main entrance (weather permitting). After the formal dedication, a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres will be held in the upstairs lecture room as HSU “Purple Coats� give tours of the state of the art facility.