U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Local Officials Praise
Environmentally-Friendly Practices and Community Support
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 18, 2012--
American
Public University System (APUS) today celebrated the opening of its
new, energy-efficient Finance Center located in the Charles Town-Ranson
Corridor of West Virginia. Since relocating its headquarters to Charles
Town 10 years ago, APUS has invested more than $47 million in local
construction and building renovation projects, including the state’s
largest solar array opened in Spring 2012 and Academic Center opened in
late 2010.
Left to Right: Dale Manuel, Jefferson County Commissioner; David Hamill, Mayor of Ranson; Honorable U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.); Herb Snyder, West Virginia State Senator; Dr. Wallace E. Boston, President and CEO of American Public University System; Peggy Smith, Mayor of Charles Town; Tiffany Lawrence, West Virginia State Delegate; Harry Wilkins, CFO of American Public University System. (Photo by Tom Kochel)
The 105,000 square foot, environmentally-friendly facility features:
-
Office and meeting space for more than 400 finance and administrative
staff supporting more than 100,000 online students worldwide.
-
Construction targeted for LEED certification at the Gold Level or
higher, per standards set by the US Green Building Council
-
Solar panels providing covered parking while producing power for the
building.
“This beautiful facility in our beautiful state is a major investment in
the Eastern Panhandle as a whole and downtown Charles Town in
particular,” noted The Honorable U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.).
“More importantly, it underscores two important things about APUS – its
success in providing educational opportunities to students all over the
country and the world, and its commitment to a future of energy
efficiency.”
“Few things are as important to America’s economic future as education
and energy,” Senator Manchin added. “Nations that best educate their
students will be the best equipped to thrive in the 21st
Century. And nations that are energy independent will have control over
their futures.”
Charles Town Mayor Peggy Smith marked the University’s decade as a
member of the community by presenting a ceremonial key to the city to
Dr. Wallace E. Boston, APUS president and CEO, who was also
congratulated by Ranson Mayor Dave Hamill. In 2002, APUS relocated its
headquarters from Manassas, Va., with 11 employees working from a single
building. Today, it employs over 500 local employees working in 17
facilities located in the heart of Charles Town, along with nearly 1900
faculty worldwide.
“Our core mission is to expand access to quality, affordable education
while addressing the environmental interests of our local and global
communities,” said Dr. Boston. “The new Finance Center will help us
continue to serve our growing student body even more effectively as we
work toward further reducing our already low carbon footprint in the
years to come.”
About American Public University System
American Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium’s 2009
Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and a recipient of
Sloan’s Effective Practice Award in 2009 and 2010, offers 87 online
degree programs through its American Public University and American
Military University institutions. APUS’s relevant curriculum,
affordability and flexibility help more than 100,000 working adults
worldwide pursue degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to
management and liberal arts. For more information, visit www.apus.edu.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50411261&lang=en
Source: American Public University System (APUS)
American Public University System
Brian Muys, 571-358-3145
bmuys@apus.edu