October 17, 2025
Volume 94 • Issue 5
FSUgatepost.com
Hemenway Laboratories to be renamed
Professor Emeritus Thomas Eames and Joan Eames donate $2 million to College of STEM By Dylan Pichnarcik Associate Editor Hemenway Laboratories is to be renamed Professor Thomas and Joan Eames Laboratories in recognition of a $2.22 million endowment given to the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by the Eames’. Notification of the award and the renaming of Hemenway Labs was sent to faculty and staff on Sept. 5 by President Nancy Niemi. The name change was approved at a meeting of the Board of Trustees by a unanimous vote on Sept. 18 and was subsequently sent to the Board of Higher Education for approval. Each year, 5% of the total endowment will be given to the College of STEM beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, according to Eric Gustafson, vice president of Development and Alumni Relations. For the first year, $100,000 from the total endowment will be dispersed to the College of STEM. As the endowment grows yearly, more funds will be dispersed. Niemi said the yearly allotment “goes directly to students, to faculty, to the work of what the college does. We aren’t at the whims of a state grant or another grant saying, ‘These are the parameters.’” “It’s just such a rich and wonderful way to give to an institution and to see the immediate effect,” Niemi added. According to Niemi, use of the funds will be determined by Provost Kristen Porter-Utely and STEM Dean Lauren Nolfo-Clements. According to Porter-Utley, plans for the funds are still being determined. “These funds to support the College of STEM will be truly transformative for students, staff, and faculty. The funds will ensure we have state-of-the-art resources available for educational and scholarly work in the College,” she said. See EAMES ENDOWMENT Page 4
Christy Howland / THE GATEPOST Students laughing and talking during the record-painting event co-sponsored by Art Club and WDJM 91.3 Oct.16.
CASA expands resources with SUCCESS grant By Bella Grimaldi News Editor A portion of a $1.3 million grant awarded to the University was used to expand the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA), according to LaDonna Bridges, dean of Student Success and Persistence. Over the summer, CASA used the grant money to expand into the Peirce Annex and add four new success coaches, said Bridges. She said the $1.3 million Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) grant funded the renovation and the new success coaches. According to Robert Totino, vice president of Finance, Technology, and Administration, Gov. Maura Healey’s office announced in December 2024 that the nine state universi-
INSIDE: OP/ED 6 • SPORTS 9 • ARTS & FEATURES 11
ties would receive the SUCCESS grant. According to President Nancy Niemi, this is the first year this grant is being offered to state GPI pg. 2 universities. SGA pg. 3 She said, “It’s the first of what we understand is a three-year funding. So what we’re applying for now would be year two, and we’ve made some modifications.” According to Totino, the LIV, LAF... RONI pg. 6 guidelines for the FY25 funding SINNERS pg. 7 required that 50% of the grant be allocated to payroll benefits. Totino said $300,000 of the grant went to the hiring of the new success coaches. According to Bridges, success VOLLEYBALL pg. 9 coaches are staff at CASA who MEN’S SOCCER pg. 10 work with students to develop goals and help them make academic plans to reach success. Bridges said success coaches help connect students to resources outside of CASA.
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See SUCCESS GRANT Page 5
DRAG EVENT pg. 11 HAMILTEN pg. 13
Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST (Center) Samantha Collette Community Standards & Student Support coordinator with (left) Heidi Faria and Marian Awuah at an info table for SHAPE Oct. 16.