Midwestern State University celebrated the construction kickoff Monday afternoon for its new Military Education Center, featuring donors, local leaders, and a tour of the space. Remarks were given by President Stacia Haynie, Brig. Gen. Paul G. Filcek, Col. Mitchell Cok, Lt. Braden Gaab, Mac Cannedy, Mayor Tim Short, Chamber of Commerce President Ron Kitchens, and State Representative James Frank.

Thanks to the generosity of local foundations and individuals, the second floor of the Bridwell Activities Center will be transformed into a central support hub for all students as part of the University’s Student Success Initiative.

Anchored by the Military Education Center, the initiative will bolster support for Sheppard Air Force Base and provide invaluable assistance to active-duty military personnel as they advance their careers.  

“It’s been just amazing to build this in collaboration with the Sheppard, and of course, the generosity of our community cannot be overstated,” Haynie said.

The Military Education Center builds upon an existing program for first-year undergraduate students that has yielded significant outcomes in retention and graduation rates. Haynie describes the initiative as a force multiplier that will bolster support for Sheppard AFB.

Haynie praised the efforts of the leadership team at SAFB and thanked them for helping MSU Texas as the university finds “a better way to serve those who serve our country.”

“This is all possible because of President Haynie’s vision and the way she wanted to make a mark and to practice at MSU what we are practicing at Sheppard Air Force Base, and that is the concept that we don’t settle for excellence, we make history,” Filcek said. “And she is like a dynamo and decided to make history for this university.”

Filcek said the donors, state legislature, the Texas Tech University System, and community partners made this project possible. His mission was to give those who are stationed at SAFB a chance to have training, development, and education.