Cupcakes and music on the Colonnade will herald the party celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Zell B. Miller Learning Center Sept. 20.
The informal, student-focused event will begin at 2 p.m. In addition to an exhibit of architect’s drawings and construction photos, there will be the launch of a “visual story” contest for students to use photo, video, or drawing to share how they see they MLC – the winners and some of the other submissions will be displayed in the spring semester. Submission information and contest details at: https://mlc.uga.edu/about/15th
A Steve Penley portrait of the late Senator Zell Miller will be installed at the MLC as part of the observance. The portrait is from the collections of the UGA Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library and last hung in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame formerly in Macon.
Miller served as Georgia lieutenant governor from 1975 to 1991, Georgia governor from 1991 to 1999, and as U.S. Senator from 2000 to 2005.
As governor, Miller was a staunch promoter of public education. He helped found the HOPE Scholarship, which paid for the college tuition of Georgia students who both established a GPA of 3.0 in high school and maintained the same while in college. The HOPE Scholarship continues to provide Georgia students with an opportunity to attend a public college or university, who otherwise may have no opportunity to do so.
Upon leaving the governor's office in January 1999, Miller accepted teaching positions at Young Harris College, Emory University, and the University of Georgia. He was a visiting professor at all three institutions when he was appointed to the U.S. Senate.
The building was named the Miller Learning Center in his honor in 2008. He died earlier this year.
A partnership of the Libraries, EITS, and the Center for Teaching and Learning, the innovative building opened as the Student Learning Center, combining classrooms, learning commons, technology lending, and computing space. With more than 200,000 square feet, the MLC is dedicated to supporting the various ways that student learn. There are more than 2 million visitors each year who use its 96 group study rooms, technology labs, and event spaces. At the MLC, students benefit from peer-tutoring, writing support, and research assistance provided by the Division of Academic Enhancement, Franklin College Writing Program, and the Universities Libraries.