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By Karin Hill

JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’s new Honors Living-Learning Community is much more than that — it’s the honors “love to learn” community, one student told the crowd at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new complex Saturday.

“The HLLC offers its students an identity,” Paul Raath said. “Each honor student has a facility he or she can identify themselves with, which is modeled to promote the love for learning. I can take the on-site classroom for example. Not even 20 yards from your building door, and you’re already in class. This is a first at ASU, and it brings a new dimension for learning and studying.”

Raath, an international business and accounting student from South Africa who plays rugby for ASU, became a resident assistant in the HLLC in August.

“It took on a new meaning for me shortly after I moved in in August,” he said. “The people, the environment and overall spirit I have been privileged to be a part of have greatly influenced me as an international honors student here at Arkansas State University.”

‘A proud moment’

Raath called the event “a proud moment of Arkansas State University, and it’s an exciting new chapter of the Residence Life experience that is bound to be written into the next 100 years of ASU’s history.”

Students, parents and faculty who gathered for the ceremony also heard from numerous university officials before cutting the ribbon and heading to the Smart Classroom to tour the facility and enjoy refreshments.

The Honors Living-Learning Community, designed by Brackett-Krennerich Architects and built by Baldwin and Shell Construction, is a 3-building residential facility and the Honors Smart Classroom Building, enclosed in a courtyard setting.

The residence hall houses both first-year students and upperclassmen in the Honors College. The entire complex totals 50,268 square feet. There are 219 beds in fully furnished single and double bedrooms in suite-style arrangement. The area also includes study-social lounges and laundry facilities in each of the three residential buildings.

In addition, the 2,500-square-foot Honors Smart Classroom Building, the first of its kind in a residential setting on the ASU-Jonesboro campus, is available for Honors courses and innovative programming.

The HLLC is a collaborative effort between the Office of Student Affairs, Residence Life and The Honors College to provide an opportunity for Honors students to live in an environment incorporating a diverse range of academic, social and cultural experiences.

“Their efforts have ensured our Honors students of a residential environment in which they will be immersed in the learning process,” said Florine Tousant Milligan, vice chair of the ASU Board of Trustees. “Living among their fellow students, this will enable them to engage in their study and learn from there fellow peers, their mentors and also the faculty for the Honors learning center. Our continuing goal is that students at Arkansas State University have access to a top-quality education, and this facility helps ensure that such opportunities are available.”

khill@jonesborosun.com