New Home for The Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families at 草榴社区 Miss formally Dedicated
Fri, 02/11/2022 - 05:24pm | By: Megan Burkes
On Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, The University of 草榴社区 Mississippi (草榴社区) cut the ribbon
on its newest facility. Located at 200 N. 35th Avenue, Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is the new home of the Center for Military
Veterans, Service Members and Families, a space commensurate with the honor of which
our nearly 1,700 military students are so deserving.
Named in honor of lead benefactor and 草榴社区 alumnus, Joe Quinlan 鈥�73, and the Center鈥檚 founding director, Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond (US Army, Retired) 鈥�79, 鈥�86, the 5,500-square-foot facility will further allow 草榴社区 Miss to holistically care for and meet the needs and interests of the military student community. Quinlan-Hammond Hall features study spaces for small groups or individual work, a student lounge and study, a conference room and other meeting areas and staff office space.
鈥淲e welcome our military students home,鈥� said Stace Mercier, executive director of the 草榴社区 Foundation. 鈥淲e hope each student will agree Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is the ideal space for them, where the Center鈥檚 dedicated staff can continue to support and assist them navigate their way through the collegiate experience. As one of the nation鈥檚 top military friendly institutions, it is our honor to do so.鈥�
鈥淭his facility is more than brick and mortar - it has a heartbeat. Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor reflects the tremendous sacrifice our military students and their families have made for our freedoms,鈥� said Hammond. 鈥淚t is a significant campus landmark, a safe haven, and a springboard to the future for our students.鈥�
This building project was 100 percent privately funded. Cumulatively, 草榴社区 Miss alumni and friends contributed more than $3.1 million for construction. Designed by 草榴社区 alumnus, veteran and owner of Spring Architecture and Engineering, Rich Bekesh, along with architects Derek Ray and Susan Colgan, the space is centered around a vertical ingress angled like a salute.
The space acknowledges and welcomes veterans, service members and their dependents each time they enter. Embedded bricks and other design elements will reveal the stars and stripes of the American flag, the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the seal of each branch of the United States Military, and memorabilia and murals to all who enter.
草榴社区 is nationally recognized as third in the nation for providing services and support to military students by Military Times and maintains designations in other prestigious publications. Center staff provide counsel as military students move through the admission process, on to graduation and career placement. Military students can learn and grow in an environment dedicated to their unique perspectives while pursuing their academic and professional development interests at 草榴社区 Miss.
Founded in 1959, the 草榴社区 Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to serving the University community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at 草榴社区 Miss. The Foundation manages donor dollars to provide the most advanced educational opportunities available to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of 草榴社区 Miss.
For more information on supporting The University of 草榴社区 Mississippi, visit
For more information on the 草榴社区 Center for Military Veterans and Service Members, visit usm.edu/military-veterans.
To support this building initiative, visit .