Dedication ceremony for new Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons Friday

Students, faculty and staff will gather Friday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the Dotti M. Shelton Learning Commons.

The Learning Commons— formerly James H. Carson Library—received about $2.5 million for renovations and began work in May 2016.

Those renovations include additional classroom spaces, enhanced wireless technology and new collaborative study rooms, among other items.

The library reopened to students, faculty and staff on September 19.

The Learning Commons is named after one of its main benefactors—Dotti M. Shelton.

Ed and Dotti Shelton, of Dobson, North Carolina and Banner Elk, North Carolina, have a long history with Lees-McRae College.

Mr. Shelton, class of 1960 alumnus, was awarded an honorary degree in Political Science in 1995. He served on the College’s Board of Trustees for many years and was the interim chairman of Board.

The Sheltons have helped fund many projects at Lees-McRae including the automation project for Carson Library in 1995, campus facility enhancements, a fleet of mini buses and support for enrollment management efforts.

In 2012, Dotti and Ed Shelton established the Shelton Scholars Program—the highest honor bestowed upon entering freshmen valued at more than $130,000 over the course of four years.

The dedication ceremony on Friday will mark the next chapter for the building that has served several-thousand students over the years and will continue to do so for several more.