STARKVILLE, Miss. (March 27, 2017)— MaxxSouth Broadband increased its support to Mississippi State University (MSU) by committing an additional $565,000 in monetary contributions to the school’s library Digital Media Center and Rare Books Collection.
Earlier this month, MaxxSouth made its first payment of $440,000 towards the library’s Digital Media Center fund. As a show of appreciation for the recent donation agreement, the Mitchell Memorial Library will name the new center the MaxxSouth Broadband Digital Media Center.
“It is an honor to have MaxxSouth’s name on MSU’s new Digital Media Center,” said Peter Kahelin, president and CEO of MaxxSouth Broadband. “We are always thrilled to help promote and expand interactive academia in our communities; the donation will benefit not only current, but future MSU students and generations to come.”
The new Digital Media Center will be triple the size of the previous one. The center will be filled with new and enhanced features, such as a high-end television production studio—the studio will partner with MSU’s broadcast communications department— and a “One Button Studio,” or audio recording booth. It will also gain a makerspace, where tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters and other technological devices will be available for general use.
“These enhancements will provide additional services that will improve the teaching, learning and research opportunities for our students and faculty,” said Stephen Cunetto, associate dean of University Libraries at MSU. “These services can and will be used by most disciplines and will become the place for creating, teaching and learning the latest digital tools and technologies. Students will be able to record a presentation or interview in our easy-to-use One Button Studio, or do prototyping with the 3D printers in our new makerspace.”
In addition to the contributions made toward the newly named MaxxSouth Broadband Digital Media Center, the company joined with Mr. John Robinson Block, Vice Chairman of Block Communications, Inc., parent company to MaxxSouth, to donate $125,000 to the MaxxSouth Broadband and John Robinson Block Special Collections Excellence Fund at the Mississippi State University Library. Their combined efforts make this fund possible.
The funds will be used to acquire, maintain, display and make available the rare books and manuscripts in the special collections department in the MSU library.
“MSU is an incredible university providing great resources for the students in our community,” said Kahelin. “We are proud to contribute in any way towards the education of these bright young minds.”
MaxxSouth has been a longtime supporter and contributor to MSU and MSU Libraries. In 2016, they entered into a support agreement with the libraries valued at $750,000, in addition to an earlier donation of a rare and valuable Mississippi law books collection.
The company will be recognized at the Dean W. Colvard Founders level within the Legacy of Leadership program, which is the major giving society for MSU. The Colvard Founders recognizes lifetime donors who donate $1,000,000 to $4,999,999 in support of the university.
About MaxxSouth Broadband:
MaxxSouth Broadband’s service area for video, high-speed Internet and digital phone stretches more than 200 miles and includes 20 counties and 61 communities in northern Mississippi and Alabama. The company currently has approximately 85,000 subscribers for broadband services and passes 110,000 homes. Operating as a subsidiary of the reputable and diversified media holding company Block Communications Inc., MaxxSouth Broadband continues to expand and enhance its state-of-the-art broadband network in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.MaxxSouth.com