ISSUED: 14 May 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University broke ground on a new dining hall and multipurpose building on Wednesday, May 14.
Faculty, staff, and students gathered with community members, business leaders, and elected officials to celebrate the start of construction on the facility that is part of an investment in Shepherd’s campus made possible through $30 million from the West Virginia Legislature last year.
Shepherd University President Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix said the money was identified thanks to collaboration between state lawmakers, the West Virginia Treasurer’s office, and the West Virginia Governor’s office.
Hendrix said the investment demonstrates a recognition of the vital role Shepherd plays in the state and the region.
“We are profoundly grateful for the support of our state and national representatives and their confidence in Shepherd to continue preparing the next generation of leaders and model citizens for success — here in the Eastern Panhandle, across West Virginia, and around the country,” Hendrix said. “I am most appreciative for the efforts by [U.S.] Senator Jim Justice, [former] WV Senate President Craig Blair, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and Congressman Riley Moore, who worked with Shepherd University representatives to identify and secure this critical funding.”
In comments made during the ceremony, former West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair said the investment benefits the entire community and creates an opportunity for Shepherd.
“I want Shepherd University to continue to prioritize and invest in itself, to adapt and innovate,” Blair said.
Eric Lewis, chair of the West Campus Enhancement Task Force, said the team that brought the project to this point has been incredible.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Lewis said, “We’re going to have the best possible building for the best dollar value that we can, because we did it as a design-build.”
The new building on West Campus brings the University’s main dining hall to the same side of campus as the residence halls, thus facilitating student access.
“This new facility is part of our strategic plan to continue investing and improving our facilities to enhance the student experience and plant the seeds for the future of Shepherd University,” Hendrix said. Bushey Feight Morin Architects and Waynesboro Construction are working with Shepherd on the project.
The new dining hall and multipurpose building includes a large dining room and commercial kitchen; offices and meeting rooms; new locker facilities; a state-of-the-art weight room for student-athletes; and special treatment areas.
Additional investments are being made across campus, including renovations in Potomac Place, Dunlop, and Printz residence halls, and the construction of a new maintenance facility to provide much-needed storage space for equipment, tools, and supplies.
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