On Tuesday, Aug. 22, Lee University dedicated the newly renovated Deacon Jones Dining Hall just in time for students’ first day of fall classes.

To celebrate the dining hall’s new look, students, faculty, and staff gathered outside the dining hall for a ribbon-cutting ceremony following the semester’s first chapel service. Lee President Dr. Paul Conn, along with Regional Vice President for Sodexo Dining Services Cal Thetford and Student Leadership Council Chair Mannah Berg, cut the ribbon. A “first slice ceremony” immediately followed where Conn cut and presented the first slice of pizza to Berg.

“The new dining hall feels sort of like visiting a theme park to me,” said Berg. “It’s so bright and open and an all-around fun place to be. And, of course, the food has always been great!”

Chris Conine, vice president for business and finance at Lee, and Celia Daniels, Sodexo district manager, have helped tremendously with the renovations for the facility, according to Conn.

After remarks from Conn, students, faculty, and staff entered the dining hall to experience the first “official” meal in the new dining hall. Each individual in attendance was also able to enter for a chance to win an Apple Watch and enjoyed live music. All students also received a free T-shirt and other goodies.

New additions include an outdoor hangout area with a fire pit, a vegetarian bar, more “made-to-order” stations, meeting spaces, Papa Conn’s Pizza, and more.

“We wanted to have a dining facility that felt more like a restaurant than a school cafeteria,” said Conn. “We want this dining hall to be the center of gravity for social life, not just for eating, but also for students all across our campus.”

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