New Mexico State University will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new nondenominational Spiritual Center at1:30 p.m. Friday, April 25. The event will take place west of NMSU’s Educational Services Building, near the pond on the east side of campus.
Construction of the center was made possible by a $600,000 gift from NMSU alumnus Jim Wetherbe and his wife, Brynn. Once completed, the facility will be available for weddings, memorial services and as a location for peaceful meditation, regardless of faith.
The groundbreaking ceremony will include remarks from NMSU President Garrey Carruthers, donors Jim and Brynn Wetherbe, NMSU Interfaith Council member Rabbi Larry Karol and student representative Randy Curley.
Jim Wetherbe is a faculty member at Texas Tech University, where he earned his MBA and Ph.D. He graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration from NMSU in 1971. He is a current Business Advisory Council member, a 1990 NMSU distinguished alum and was inducted into the NMSU College of Business Hall of Fame in 2003.
Nondenominational spiritual centers are found at colleges across the country, including many large universities in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Colorado. They serve as places for both celebration and remembrance, as well as a location for quiet rest, thought and meditation.
The building design will include a covered portico to serve as a gathering area for pre- and post-function events. Construction will include energy-efficient and sustainable building materials and practices.