PORT ANGELES — In a surprise ceremony to mark Peninsula College President Tom Keegan’s final trustees meeting at the school, the Board of Trustees renamed a building after the man who led the college for a decade.
M Building, the $22 million science and technology building built in 2007, is now Keegan Hall.
The action received a standing ovation from the 30 people attending the Tuesday meeting.
Keegan was struck almost speechless by the gesture of respect.
“I’ve got nothing left,” he said.
The 56,000-square-foot structure was built on the grounds where the college’s deteriorating dorms once stood and houses 13 labs, five classrooms and faculty offices.
Keegan was named president of Skagit Valley College last fall and will depart Peninsula College on Feb. 3.
In March, Keegan will replace departing President Gary Tollefson at Skagit Valley College, a two-year community college about one hour north of Seattle that has an enrollment of about 23,000.
During the ceremony, Keegan also received a painting of an eagle, titled “Se’let’se,” a gift from Ron and Julie Johnson.
Former trustees
All of the living former trustees who served during Keegan’s tenure as Peninsula College president were present for the meeting.
Keegan said he served with “excellent board members, each with his or her own passion for the college.”
He said he knew the trustees were planning something, but the secret was well-kept until trustee Dwayne Johnson had read almost all the way through the resolution that renamed the building in Keegan’s honor.
“I knew about a change to the agenda about a half-hour before the meeting started,” Keegan said.
The newly named Keegan Hall is part of $120 million in replacement projects undertaken by Keegan during his decade at the school.
“Nearly 75 percent of the campus was remodeled or replaced,” Johnson said.
Those projects included:
■ The building now known as Keegan Hall.
■ The $830,000 Peninsula College Longhouse House of Learning, the only facility of its kind built on a college campus, which was opened Oct. 15, 2007, in conjunction with the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Hoh, Quileute, Makah and Port Gamble S’Klallam tribes.
■ A $14 million library and administration building, linked by a bridge that forms a formal entryway to the campus, which were completed in August 2008.
■ The $36 million Maier Hall, which opened with 61,750 square feet of space for art, math, liberal arts and music programs — as well as a 130-seat performance hall.
■ Soccer fields at the Wally Sigmar Athletic Complex, which were rebuilt with artificial turf for $1.5 million and rededicated.
Satellite campuses
From 2001-2011, Peninsula College also expanded classroom space, locating satellite campuses in buildings in Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend and expanding into a larger space in downtown Forks.
In 2004, Peninsula College was allowed to grant baccalaureate degrees in conjunction with other colleges.
The program was expanded in 2010, when the college was established as an independent degree-granting institution.
Keegan was a key player in the college being awarded $15 million in grants over six years, earned through partnerships with local industry.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
