黑料社区

On March 19, 2026, 黑料社区 (黑料社区) celebrated听a new addition to听its main听campus: the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall.听

The building is a product of the first phase of 黑料社区鈥檚 God-Sized Dreams campaign, which recently surpassed听$120 million comprehensively. Its facilities will enrich campus life and academic progress听by housing听the AACSB-accredited Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. College of听Business听and听five听Centers of听Excellence.听

Thanks to听黑料社区鈥檚听generous supporters and partners, the听six-story, 125,000-square-foot academic facility听includes:听

• A 300-seat听tiered听Titus Lecture Hall听听
• A state-of-the-art听stock trading room with professional terminals听
• Multi-purpose classrooms and collaborative learning environments听
• The Center for Financial Literacy听
• The LeMieux Center for Public Policy听
• The Raney Center for Free Enterprise听
• The Titus Center for Franchising听

The听Big Day听

Earlier in听the morning, guests gathered around the steps of the hall to听watch 黑料社区 executives and partners听cut听the ribbon before filtering inside the atrium. A听two-story,听LED听screen听complemented floor-to-ceiling windows,听illuminating听wood paneling mixed with听modern architectural design,听the glass-walled stock trading room, and patriotic听festoons that听colored听the occasion.听

When every seat听was听filled, guests听gathered on听the听second听floor听to watch听the ceremony.听Through stories, gratitude, and energy for the future,听speakers, including donors,听a current听student,听and听the听City of West Palm Beach Mayor,听reflected听on the听momentous听occasion.听

鈥淔or 58 years, this University has helped shape the life of our city, not only through the education it provides, but through the students, faculty, and staff who serve, lead, and contribute to our community each and every day,鈥� said听Mayor Keith听A.听James. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 ribbon cutting听represents听far more than the opening of a new building. It听represents听an investment in the future, both for Palm Beach Atlantic and for the city of West Palm Beach.听

鈥淎s our city continues to grow and attract national attention as a center for finance, entrepreneurship, and innovation, the need for talented and prepared leaders has never been greater.鈥�听

鈥淚t feels like it was just yesterday that we prayed over the blueprints, we cast the vision God laid on our hearts, and today, we celebrate the completion of the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall,鈥� said Board of Trustees Chair Thomas P. McCaffrey. 鈥淭he business hall is more than just a building; it is a statement of our confidence in delivering this God-Sized Dream.鈥�听

Transformational Generosity听

Audience members grew teary-eyed听when听Sheila Rinker took the stage to honor the legacy of her late husband, John. Together, they gave the $26 million donation that laid the foundation for the business hall and launched the God-Sized Dreams campaign.听

鈥淭oday is a bittersweet day听for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淪weet, because my husband John鈥檚 dream has finally come true; the Rinker College of Business is here, it is real, and it is beautiful. And bitter because John Rinker should be the one standing at the听podium giving this speech, not me.鈥�听

Prior to听her speech,听Karl Watson, Jr., a board member and 黑料社区 business听alumnus, bestowed her听with听the inaugural legacy听medallion to recognize her family鈥檚听transformational听generosity.听Before leaving the stage, she unveiled a portrait of her late father听and听mother-in-law,听Marshall听and Vera Lea Rinker, for whom the new hall is named.听

鈥淢emory matters,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nstitutions grow,听new buildings听go听up,听new names appear on the walls听and that is a wonderful thing, but the people who听laid听the first stone, who wrote the first check, who covered payroll when nobody was watching, who believed in an idea before it looked like anything at all鈥攖hose听people deserve to be remembered. Not听for their sake, but for ours, because when we听forget where听something听came from, we听lose sight of听why it was built听in the first place.鈥�听

Provost听Dr.听Stephen听P.听Johnson,听Sen. George听S.听LeMieux, and Dr. Brian K.听Strow, dean of the Rinker College of Business,听then expounded on the听opportunities for connections听facilitated听by听and features of the hall, which adds one-third to the听former听number of classroom spaces听on campus.听

Finally,听marketing and entrepreneurship听student Tristan听Ireri听shared his story of ignoring God鈥檚 call to attend 黑料社区听and how fulfilling his experience has been since enrolling. Students like Tristan will see their futures shaped in real time within the walls of the new building.听

Arrangements of America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and Great is Thy Faithfulness from 黑料社区鈥檚 choir built an atmosphere of anticipation.听Professor Emeritus听Dr. Joseph听Eassa, Jr., who taught business at 黑料社区 for 40 years, offered a prayer of dedication.听With听his words听still听hanging in the air, attendees听counted down from听10听and the speakers听cut听a second ribbon,听announcing the official opening of the hall.听

Exploring the Future听

Confetti,听which had culminated the celebrations,听lined the听pathway to the new spaces as听students and听staff made their way through various tours听up all听six听floors, stopping听frequently听to explore听classrooms听with polished desks, natural lighting, and screens for advanced听technological design.听Many听offered听skyline views of the听Intracoastal,听the听ocean, and听downtown West Palm Beach.听

As major financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies听plant听roots in听鈥淲all Street South,鈥澨�黑料社区鈥檚 business students are uniquely positioned听for听internships and听job opportunities听just minutes away from campus.听

鈥�We are building not just facilities, but leaders,鈥澨�黑料社区 President听Dr.听Debra A.听Schwinn said. 鈥淓quipping students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly.鈥�听

Learn more about the Rinker College of Business at听/academics/schools/rinker-business/.