Emporia State held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to commemorate the opening of the university’s new Nursing and Student Wellness Center. ESU faculty, staff and students, donors, former ESU President Ken Hush and government officials, including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, attended the event.
The privately-funded, $18.5 million building, which broke ground in April 2024, brings nursing students and classes to ESU’s campus from Cora Miller Hall, an off-campus building near Newman Regional Health. It is ESU’s first new building since 1979.
Students have access to five medical simulation rooms, two adaptable classrooms, an 11-bed skills lab, a student success center and a large student lounge in the faciltity. The Student Wellness Center, located on the ground floor, also occupies the space.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Former Lieutenant Governor Gary Sherrer, ESU Foundation President and CEO Jason Drummond and Dean of ESU School of Applied Health Sciences Nicole Webb all gave a short speech at the ceremony. Each speech focused on the importance of further medical progress both in the state of Kansas and the world.
Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, spoke about the collaboration between Kansas Democrats and Republicans for improved education in Kansas. At the end of the day, he and Kelly, a Democrat, have the same goal, he said.
“Quite frankly, the Governor and I agree on more than we disagree on,” said Hawkins. “A lot of people don’t think that it’s true, but we as a matter of fact, do share a vision. We want higher ed to be the best in Kansas of any state in the nation. It’s important for higher ed to do very, very well. I believe in what time both the Governor and I have left, because we both leave at the same time, we’re going to work really hard to make sure that happens.”
In her speech, Kelly touched on the importance of putting students’ health and education first with a building like the Nursing and Student Wellness Center. She said the move is not only a step towards advancing medical education on campus, but also shows signs of progress for the university.
“This is the first new building on this campus since 1979. II have a feeling with the way that Emporia State has been moving and the enthusiasm that’s evident here, this is not going to be the last,” Kelly said. “This is going to spark some real change here on this campus, and I would say change for the better. This building will start that with new technology that will allow us to train incredible health care workers.”
An open house of the Nursing and Student Wellness Center is scheduled for April 11, 2026 for the public.
