PROCTORVILLE- Thank you. Those were the words uttered several times Saturday as Ohio University Southern officials paid tribute to those who have donated money, time and resources to the Proctorville Center, OUS's facility in the eastern part of the county.

More than $1.4 million has been raised to expand the Proctorville arm of the campus; more than $100,000 has been donated within the last month.

The university hopes to raise $200,000 within the next four to five weeks. The local monies will will allow the university to qualify for a $450,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation.

The largest donation to date has not been a cash offering. In October of 2001, the Marshall Smith family donated 19 acres of land off State Route 775 for a new facility to accommodate a growing student population.

Proctorville Center Director Stephanie Burcham said the expanse of land will come in handy. More students are using the center and are spending more time there pursuing an education.

"Last quarter we had 273 students," Burcham said. "The number of credit hours during our fall quarter increased by 34 percent over the same time last year; our winter quarter credit hours increased 50 percent over the same time last year."

Site preparation will begin this fall on the new Proctorville Center, with construction likely to start in the spring of 2004.