Kennesaw State University has long been known for the excellence of its nursing program. And now that program is growing and about to expand into a new building. Moreover, that new building now has a name, one that honors two of the school's biggest benefactors and supporters through the years, Bob and Lil Prillaman.

Bob Prillaman has served on the KSU Foundation's Board of Trustees for 25 years and is a retired senior vice president of Caraustar Industries in Austell.

"His contributions to this institution are immeasurable," KSU President Dr. Papp told the MDJ. "Perhaps most significantly, he brought WellStar Health System and Kennesaw State University together in addressing the region's health care needs."

The 192,000-square-foot building in question will house the KSU WellStar School of Nursing and is slated to open in June.

"I don't know how to express the honor that we fell," Prillaman told the MDJ. "(The building) will define KSU as not only the largest nursing school in the state, but will be one of continued quality.

"It is ironic that in the middle of a nursing shortage that the university with the state's largest nursing program is actually turning down qualified applicants. We need nurses and this new building will allow KSU to significantly increase the number of new nursing students each year."

Money for the $42.5 million building - to be called Prillaman Hall - was approved two years ago by the state Board of Regents. Another $7.5 million must yet be raised to outfit and equip the building with furniture, lab equipment, etc.

KSU is in the midst of a $75 million fundraising campaign headed by Bob Prillaman, who has already obtained $51.3 million in commitments.

"The best thing with the capital campaign is people are really seeing the value of KSU to this community and this region," Prillaman said.

KSU's "value" is already well known to the people of Cobb County, and the expansion of the nursing program, and the long labors of the Prillamans and the others on the KSU Foundation, will do nothing but enhance its reputation and its value.