On September 13, PBA President Dr. Debra Schwinn cut the sailfish navy blue ribbon, officially declaring the opening of PBA’s new bookstore.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who made this possible,” said President Schwinn. “It was a huge team… I can’t tell you how much fun it has been to watch people’s reaction when they see all of our recent renovations. This is going to be an amazing place to introduce PBA to new families, for our alumni as they come back and of course for our faculty, staff and students to enjoy.”
The confetti-filled celebration included refreshments of cupcakes and popcorn, PBA merchandise, giveaways and a raffle. A polaroid photo booth was also present, accompanied by the presence of PBA’s beloved mascot, Sailfish Jack. The PBA colors were on full display, with a gigantic balloon arch gracing the new bookstore’s entryway.
Previously, the bookstore was located off South Dixie Highway, but over the summer it moved to the Lassiter Student Center, right in the heart of campus. Construction began last spring, and many students took notice of the newly walled off section in the student center. Last semester, the location was a vacant mailroom and office space, and now it is an integral part of a student’s everyday life. With its new modern design, the bookstore is fully equipped to serve all who enter.
As PBA continues to grow with record-breaking enrollment numbers, it looks for ways to improve students’ lives by giving them easier access to textbooks and resources.
Students unable to attend the festivities can still join the fun by stopping by the bookstore to get a free PBA shirt till Friday, September 22, and by checking out the new store’s wide range of apparel, textbooks, and other college-life necessities.
