WINONA LAKE – Grace College today announced plans for a new science complex that will be named after Biomet co-founder Dr. Dane Miller.
With $5.5 million in donations from Dr. Dane and Mary Louise as well as Zimmer Biomet, college officials said they plan to break ground on the Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex in spring 2017, according to a press release from the college.
Construction of the new science complex will involve the renovation and expansion of the existing Cooley Science Center.
No completion date for the project has been set and fundraising for the project is continuing.
For nearly 40 years, the Department of Science and Mathematics has grown six-fold and more than 220 students are pursuing 13 different science majors and 11 pre-professional tracks through the department, the press release said.
The Millers have had a longstanding friendship with Grace College and worked with the leadership on several joint projects to make the college and community stronger.
Dr. Dane Miller was CEO of Biomet for 39 years. Before his passing in 2015, he and Mary Louise discussed the importance of Grace’s science center in educating the next generation.
“Dane was very interested in renovating Grace’s science center,” Mary Louise said.
“The Millers’ significant gift was the catalyst for this project,” said Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College. “We encouraged Mary Louise to allow us to name the science complex in memory of Dane, and she agreed.”
“Dane would be elated about the new complex and deeply honored that Grace would recognize him in this way,” Mary Louise said. “This will be the greatest visible tribute to Dane’s legacy in our community.”
Zimmer Biomet also contributed significantly to the project to honor the immeasurable influence Miller had on the orthopedics industry and its company, the press release said.
“Dane was a true innovator in our industry and in our community,” said Zimmer Biomet President and CEO David Dvorak. “We are pleased to have an opportunity to nurture that value in the next generation of leaders.”
The science center also houses the Center for Lakes and Streams, an education and research center focused on the more than 100 lakes and streams in Kosciusko County. The Center, along with increased interest in environmental science courses and market demand for graduates with these skills, has made updated and expanded lab space a necessity.
Modernizing the science center will include the construction of contemporary and upgraded labs, classrooms for engineering and math students, a hub for lake and stream research, additional office and multi-use space.
“We’ve been dreaming of and planning for a new science complex that resources our students and equips our faculty to be leaders in their fields. We’re now well on our way toward that reality,” said Grace College Vice President of Advancement Drew Flamm.
