(BLACK PR WIRE) MIAMI GARDENS, FL [JUNE 24, 2010] – Florida Memorial University administrators will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10:00 am on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 to initiate the new Living and Learning Residence building project on campus. D. Stephenson Construction, Inc., a well-known minority firm, was recently awarded the contract to build the residence halls which will be comprised of four buildings and will accommodate 350 suite-style bedrooms with bathrooms.

“We are honored to have been selected as the firm to set this project in motion,” stated President /CEO Dwight Stephenson for D. Stephenson Construction, Inc. “The buildings will not only include suites, but common area amenities such as a multi-purpose reception room with kitchen, a recreation and game room, and a fitness room. Students will also enjoy computer rooms, a media room, a classroom, student lounges, laundry rooms, vending machines, and a student health center at their disposal. The project is slated for completion in August 2011, and we are confident that incoming students will be pleased with the finished product,” he continued.

Sandra T. Thompson, Ph.D. shared her sentiments about the project. “I am so delighted to see the strategic planning efforts of the FMU Board of Trustees and administration result in the success of the new Living and Learning Residence. We are now in a position to announce this residence project to our students, their parents, and the broader community,” she stated.

Guests attending the Florida Memorial University groundbreaking on campus are urged to confirm their attendance by calling (305) 626-3605 by Monday, June 28.

About Florida Memorial University:

Located in the City of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is a private, historically Black institution offering 42 undergraduate degree programs and 4 graduate degree programs to a culturally diverse student body. Since its inception in 1879, the University has upheld a commitment to providing a solid foundation for thousands of young people and opening doors to educational opportunities that may have otherwise been closed to them. As South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it is widely recognized for being the birthplace of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and the home of student Barrington Irving, Jr., the first pilot of African descent and youngest pilot ever to fly solo around the world. For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (305) 626-3624 or visit www.fmuniv.edu.