The Norman Levan Center for the Humanities at Bakersfield College broke ground in late 2008 with a donation from Dr. Norman Levan, a Bakersfield dermatologist, of $5.7 million. Dr. Levan’s dream was realized when friends, BC staff, media and district and state representatives arrived for the ribbon-cutting ceremony March 4.
Mike Stepanovich, director of the BC Foundation, opened the ceremony and spoke about what the donation meant to BC and how it’s going to be put to use to help students become more aware as they grow from their learning.
“This is a place where students now, and in the future, can come to learn and grow as human beings,” he said. “There will be lectures here, visiting scholars and things other community colleges just won’t have.”
He also conveyed that the Levan Center is known nationwide.
“The Community College Journal is a nationwide publication that has featured the Levan Center,” he said. “This is truly a step forward in education.”
Greg Chamberlain, president of BC, expressed during his opening remarks the benefit of having the Levan Center on campus.
“Current and future students will benefit from a new era of education,” said Chamberlain.
The new director for the Levan Center, Jack Hernandez, conveyed that the center was appropriately named for student education.
“We will have events here that directly have to do with the humanities,” he said. “There will be smaller discussion groups students can take part in, we’ll have visiting scholars; this will truly be an institute of learning.”
Hannah Egland, donor relations for the BC Foundation, expressed her thoughts on the donation that started the building of the Levan Center.
“Dr. Levan contributes money to many different causes, including a hospital in Jerusalem,” she said. “The donation he gave us was the single largest donation any community college in the country has ever received.”
Levan was present at the ceremony and received several awards including plaques and certificates of appreciation. He also received a flag, flown over the California state capitol, from Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s office.
In an interview with Dr. Levan during the reception, he expressed why he decided to donate the money specifically to BC.
“Bakersfield College is the pearl of the valley. I’m interested in what happens to students that come here,” he said. “If a student gets a B here, they’ll go to a university like Berkeley and get A’s.”