30th Anniversary History Book

President Hutchinson at Beacon Hall ribbon- cutting ceremony.

During his transition as president, Hutchinson saw his job as building trust between the new administration and the student body that was nearing 185 members. As he began his tenure, the college was poised for the next phase of development with a strong financial base and a $1.3-million-dollar reserve for the construction of Beacon Hall and expanding the campus. Hutchinson pored over the plans for the construction of Beacon Hall and, after considerable deliberation, the board — with the counsel of engineer George Marinakis — brought in a new development team that revamped the blueprint for what would become the college’s signature building. Also under Hutchinson’s watch, psychology and business management became new majors and the school bought the Woodward

Although his tenure carried the “interim” tag, Hutchinson said he never looked at the posting as being a short-term caretaker whose main job was merely to keep the school running until the new president was named. His intent was to make Beacon better. “I really felt ver y good about where we were when I left,” said Hutchinson, now living in Ozark, Mo. and a senior consultant with the executive search firm RH Perr y & Associates. During the tenures of both Dunlop and Hutchinson, the board of trustees, then chaired by Eileen Marinakis, consulted regularly with staff, developed a comprehensive institutional vision, established a search committee, led by trustee Dr. William Somerset, and contracted with a firm to conduct a national search for the next president.

In 2013, along with pursuing SACSCOC approval for what would become the school’s sixth major and planning for the renovation of the Mason Art Center, Hutchinson’s two years and two months on the job were highlighted by the opening of the 8,000-square-foot Beacon Hall. Shelly Chandler, who led a number of tours of the building after the ceremonial ribbon cutting, hailed it at the time as a big “wow.” “Everything is so modern, so new,” she said back then. She was showing off the building’s interior, which was designed with high-tech color and lighting and temperature amenities to accommodate students with learning disabilities. The $2.36 million hall featured blue carpeting with minimal patterns to provide calmness; items made from materials with low odors; soft lighting; a constant temperature setting of 72 degrees; advanced audio and BEACON HALL OPENS

visual tools and classroom areas with U-shape arrangements of desks to facilitate optimal collaboration and discussion. “We followed what researchers said we should do to make it more conducive to learning,” Chandler explained. Among those in attendance were U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-10), Sen. Alan Hayes (S-11), Rep. Larry Metz (H-32), Beacon College Board Chair Eileen Marinakis, fellow board members, President Hutchinson, and several area leaders from Central Florida’s political, educational, business and philanthropic circles. “This represents Beacon’s commitment to its mission, to the community of Leesburg, and to the quality of its educational programming,” Hutchinson said, then added the new facility “sets the bar” for future construction on campus.

Street Apartments, increasing student housing by 33 beds.

Interim President John Hutchinson

2012 Beacon College Board of Trustees

[Courtesy of The Orlando Sentinel]

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