Dr. Terry Graham, holding his granddaughter Lylah, was honored Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the dedication of the Terry Graham Student Center. Sharing in the special occasion were, from left to right, his son Casey, his wife Pam, his daughter-in-law Susan and his son Chuck.
Graham, left, and AIDB board of trustees Chair Jake Montgomery show off the plaque designed to designate the Terry Graham Student Center. The ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 16, was the first time most people had seen the plaque.
Standing in preparation of the ribbon cutting for the Terry Graham Student Center are, from left to right, HKS Residential Department Director John Connell, AIDB trustee Lynwood French, National Anthem singer and HKS student Timmareo Woods, HKS Principal Erminel Love-Trescott, HKS student Brian Helton, AIDB board of trustees Chair Jake Montgomery, Dr. Terry Graham, AIDB Instructional Programs Vice President Frieda Meacham, Dart Davis, Frank McKinnon and Dr. Horace Patterson.
The AIDB board of trustees voted unanimously to name the building after Graham in November 2009, but the official dedication ceremony finally took place Tuesday, Feb. 16.
“I want to express my appreciation to the AIDB board of trustees for this honor of a lifetime,” Graham said. “I am honored by this dedication ceremony. Thank you for believing I would be deserving of this honor, and I am thrilled that on this cold, cold winter day you have come out to share it with me.”
Graham also said the dedication of the student center and other dedications in the recent past are symbolic of something so much more important than buildings — the institute’s commitment to society overall and making sure its students feel valued. Graham said the faculty and staff make sure to treat the students with dignity and respect to ensure that they feel good about who they are.
HKS Residential Department Director John Connell said the new 11,000-square-foot Terry Graham Student Center would provide students with an exercise room to improve physical stamina and burn off excess energy, a Wii to improve hand-eye coordination and balance, a sensory stimulation room to help students refocus their attention, a music room, a jukebox, a computer game room to strengthen students’ competitive spirit and fine motor skills, a craft room to provide tactile stimulation, a school store, an arts education room, a reading room and an updated nurse’s station.
The center is also meant to help with such academic needs as math, language and Braille in addition to helping students develop independent living skills and physical or recreational therapy.
AIDB trustee Lynwood French said he was grateful to the 2002-2003 board of trustees for choosing Graham as the president of AIDB.
“He is an honest, passionate and hardworking man,” French said. “He works with an open mind and is relentless in pursuing resources for AIDB. I am so proud to have Terry Graham’s name on this building because of his passion for meeting the unique needs of these students.”
French went on to refresh everyone’s memory on Graham’s tenure with AIDB. Graham began as the principal of HKS from 1977 to 1983. He then served as the director from 1983 until 2002, when he was chosen as president of the institute.
“We have come a long way,” Graham said. “But we have a long way to go. There are things we can still do. We can take care of what we have, however. We have to make sure these facilities are places where we would want to live. I don’t know that I am deserving of this honor, but it is the honor of a lifetime.”
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