The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE GRAND REOPENING OF THE MORRIS LAWRENCE BUILDING
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HON. DEBBIE DINGELL
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand reopening of the Morris Lawrence Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This special occasion and Washtenaw Community College's nearly 60 years of educating and enriching our community is worthy of commendation.
This building is named after Dr. Morris J. Lawrence, an influential musician, and former Washtenaw Community College jazz orchestra instructor. Dr. Lawrence made a tremendous impact on his students and our community with his teaching and his music, and this building was dedicated to him shortly after his passing in 1993. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a gifted musician, Dr. Lawrence started composing music in high school. He studied instrumental music at Xavier University of Louisiana, and after graduation moved to Ann Arbor to teach band at St. Thomas High School. He later became the director of music at the school and began teaching at Washtenaw Community College--
all while working on his doctorate at the University of Michigan. A legendary teacher who touched the lives of so many, he wrote forty band compositions, sixty-four dance orchestra pieces, and four string quartets before the age of 30.
The reopening of the Morris Lawrence building follows an eight-month closure for renovation and upgrades. The building includes a 495-seat auditorium and is a hub for the creative arts student community. The remodeled Morris Lawrence Building and its new technological advancements will allow Washtenaw Community College to provide many years of quality education to present and future students. A new eco-
friendly energy system, fast high-speed internet, and other welcoming amenities are among the new features that will enrich the student experience and reinforce a positive learning environment. Founded in 1965, Washtenaw Community College enrolls nearly twenty thousand students annually and offers over one hundred degree or certificate programs in numerous subject fields. The college has partnerships with local and national businesses as well as the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University to help their students follow any path they choose.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Washtenaw Community College on this special day as the ribbon is cut at the entrance of the renovated Morris Lawrence Building. We are grateful to President Rose Bellanca and the Board of Trustees for their commitment to making Washtenaw Community College a fantastic place to learn and grow for Washtenaw County students of all ages. This new and improved creative arts facility will be an asset to the college and to the greater Washtenaw community for years to come.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 114(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 114(2)
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