Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Mary and Carl Ice Hall, 1310 Research Park Drive in Manhattan, is the latest addition to the College of Human Ecology facilities at Kansas State University. It will be named and dedicated at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24.

A reception and tour of the building, to be used for research, development, outreach and innovation, will follow. In May the college purchased the 20,000 square-foot structure, former home of NanoScale, through a gift from the Ices and a combination of private funds.

It will provide laboratory space for larger-scale research projects in the college. Moving to Mary and Carl Ice Hall will be the Sensory Analysis Center in the human nutrition department; NASA project in the kinesiology department; Programs for Workplace Solutions and the Personal Financial Planning Clinic in the School of Family Studies and Human Services; research projects in the apparel, textiles and interior design department; and the Institute for Academic Alliances.

"We need to have facilities that attract top research scientists. Having appropriate facilities will help advance our college and the land-grant mission of Kansas State University," Mary Ice said. "We need to provide our students with the best educators and facilities possible, and give them chances to grow as individuals as they are earning their degrees."

"Mary and I have been very blessed with many opportunities," Carl Ice said. "With that comes the responsibility to be leaders and model the way. We do our best to fulfill that responsibility."

Mary Ice graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in home economics education in 1980 and a master's in adult and occupational education in 1988. She is president of the College of Human Ecology alumni advisory board, a member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors, a member of the Ahearn Advisory Committee and a member of the President's Council on Athletics.

A 1979 Kansas State University graduate in industrial engineering, Carl Ice is president and chief operating officer of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. He is past chair of the College of Engineering advisory council and a member of the Kansas State University Foundation board of directors.

The Ices also serve on the board of trustees of the KSU Foundation.

John Buckwalter, dean of the College of Human Ecology, will lead the renaming ceremony.

"It is our goal to provide students with the best educators and facilities we can," he said. "We can't do that without the support and dedication of people like Mary and Carl Ice."

"Kansas State is a special place with special people and great leadership. We are convinced Kansas State and the College of Human Ecology will continue to make a difference for many people," Carl Ice said.