News

12.12.2003

Major Milestones for CT Center for Science & Exploration: Leadership Funding Passes $4-Million, Sergi Named CEO

A group of prominent business, education and public figures that has been working to create a state-of-the-art science center in Connecticut today announced several key milestones towards building the Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration, planned for downtown Hartford.

The group, working previously as an informal committee, today became the Board of Trustees of the Center, and immediately announced over $4-million in pledges to launch the project, and appointed Dr. Theodore S. Sergi as President & Chief Executive Officer.

“We started with a vision, and today we have the building blocks to make it happen,” said Governor John G. Rowland, who co-chairs the Center's Board with Pfizer Chairman/CEO Dr. Henry A. McKinnell. “This is now a funded, fully engaged organization with exceptional volunteer and executive leadership to build a science center in Hartford.”

The Board of Trustees is sponsoring the organization, the concept planning and capital campaign with $2-million in private pledges to be matched by public funds earmarked for the project by the state.

“This extraordinary, caring and diverse group of leaders is sponsoring a very important ideal,” said Dr. McKinnell. “We are investing in enlightened, thoughtful generations for a world where science drives ever more critical technological, social and economic issues and opportunities.”

The Center, envisioned as a sustainable and popular science center that engages schools and families and has a significant impact on learning in Connecticut, is being planned with the help of a committee led by Yale University President Richard Levin, vice chair of the Center's Board.

“The Center will provide programs and educational support services for science, technology and mathematics learning, with a particular focus on families, students and teachers," said Mr. Levin. "We will enable exploration of science and technology for the young, and encourage adults to become more familiar with the role of science in society. We will use our presence to enhance Connecticut's identity as a center for science and technology.”

As President & CEO, Dr. Sergi will serve as a member ex officio of the Board, and bring his substantial background as an executive, administrator, educator and public figure to the project. As chief executive he will build and lead the management team working with the Board of Trustees on the concept development, planning and fundraising for the Center.

“When we thought about the kind of presence, background and passion that we wanted in our chief executive, our first call was to Ted Sergi,” said Gov. Rowland. “In Ted, we have an individual of great sophistication and great passion about our state, our children, and education, and he has a record of creating and successfully implementing innovative initiatives that make a difference.”

Dr. Sergi, an educator for more than thirty years, served since 1994 as the State of Connecticut Education Commissioner.

“As an educator, a parent, and a citizen of this great state, I am privileged to have a role in creating this very important institution,” said Dr. Sergi. “I am very excited by the magnitude of this opportunity and by the quality and commitment of this outstanding Board of Trustees, as evidenced by their significant contributions of time, energy and money.”

The Center will immediately establish an office in downtown Hartford, and accelerate the planning and development process begun by the Board of Trustees and an interim team of loaned, part-time and volunteer staff and consultants.

The project now moves into its first formal phase of development, including the concept, program and facility design, as well as the capital fundraising campaign.

“This project now has the foundation upon which a great initiative of this scale can only be built, and we are taking it to the next level of commitment, planning and work,” said Gov. Rowland. “Our new science center will uniquely address the critical need for greater science literacy in our state and our nation.”

Initial funding for the project is provided by The Pfizer Foundation, United Technologies, Inc., Aetna, The Hartford, The Northeast Utilities Foundation, The Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation, Steven A. Denning & Roberta Denning Bowman, Yale University, SBC SNET, The University of Hartford, Laura R. Estes & George L. Estes, The CT State University System, Waterford Development, Capital Properties, Eastern CT State University, the CT Health and Education Facilities Authority, and the Capital City Economic Development Authority. All are represented on the Center’s founding Board of Trustees.