b'A PLACETO CONNECTA picturesque fall day provided the perfect background for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially unveil our new courtyard and recognize the family of alumni that helped give new life to a popular gathering spot. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Wehinger family and EMI-Environmental Management, Inc. for providing a beautiful campus setting for our students, alumni and community to enjoy!Interaction with others has become more important than ever. Whether it is accomplished online or in person, having spacesto come together to share ideas and connect is important.Reconstruction efforts for the new courtyard began with a November 2019 groundbreaking, and were made possible through a generous gift by the Wehinger family. Franklinalumni, Mark and Mike Wehinger, who are president andexecutive vice president of EMI-Environmental Management,Inc., served as project managers, continuing a longpartnership with the University. More than beautification, the two-year project enabled the University to improve safety by leveling sidewalks that had become uneven over time. In addition, existing lighting was converted to LED, which is not only brighter, but also more efficient. Other benefits of the project included re-orienting pathways to create direct routes to buildings, re-locating Robert Joe Wehinger MBA 15; Mike Wehinger B.S. Business Administration 86 & B.S. Finance 87; Mark Wehingerthe Alumni Hall steps and patio and removing and replacing B.S. Business Administration 85 & B.S. Finance 86; Stephanie Wehinger Isaacs B.S. Business Administration 81;Stephen Isaacs B.S. Business Administration 81 & MBA 11. overgrown and diseased shrubbery and trees.Clocktower | Franklin News 13'