May 6, 2015 // Local
USF kicks off downtown campus renovations, USF president named Sagamore of the Wabash
By Kay Cozad
Shown are speakers who participated in the demolition of the ceremonial wall, including, from left, Ron Dick, partner at Design Collaborative; Jon Gilmore, president and CEO of Tonn and Blank Construction; Bill Niezer, chair of USF Board of Trustees; Rachelle Reinking, 2015 graduate of USF music tech program; Brad Hartman, current USF Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership student (Class of 2016); Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and Sister M. Elise Kriss with USF mascot Johnny Cougar standing to her right. Guided tours of the building followed the ceremony.
FORT WAYNE — A renovation celebration marked the official start of the conversion of the former Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Fort Wayne into the new location of the University of Saint Francis Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership on May 6.
During the renovation kickoff celebration, Franciscan Sister M. Elise Kriss, president of the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, was named a Sagamore of the Wabash. USF Board of Trustees President Bill Neizer made the announcement for Gov. Mike Pence. The award recognized Sister Kriss for her outstanding service, strong institutional leadership and support of the community, region and state.
Sister Kriss proclaimed her deep gratitude for the award and admitted, “It’s not easy to surprise Sister Elise.”
She later added, “It’s a wonderful feeling. Surprise is a feeling I don’t often have. … I’m very honored.”
Sister Kriss, Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades and other community dignitaries and friends of USF gathered at the 826 Ewing St. location to witness the kickoff of the downtown campus project.
During the ceremony, Sister Kriss noted that the renovations were beginning in 2015, USF’s 125th anniversary year.
Franciscan Sister M. Elise Kriss, president of the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, was surprised on May 6 as she was named a Sagamore of the Wabash. Shown, from left, are Sister Kriss, USF Director of Communication Rob Hines and USF Vice President of Institutional Advancement Matt Smith.
She said, “Two city treasures, the former Chamber building and the USF Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center, begin their transformation as unique spaces for higher education. These spaces will be filled with students beginning with fall 2016 classes.”
In addition to housing the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership, the university’s signature project-based learning program, META, will also be located in the building and four floors of the West Annex of the USF Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center (former Scottish Rite) will be renovated as well, to house the School of Creative Arts Music Technology program.
Mayor Henry read an official city proclamation naming May 6, 2015 as the University of Saint Francis Downtown Campus Renovation Day.
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