Westminster College Announces Gift from Great Salt Lake Minerals

Corporation to name office in new Meldrum Science Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Krista DeAngelis (801) 832-2682


June 23, 2009


SALT LAKE CITY–Westminster College announced today that Great Salt Lake Minerals has made a gift to the new Meldrum Science Center. In recognition of the gift, the company will receive naming rights to the Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI) director’s office at the college. The office will be located in the new four-story, 60,000-sq.-ft. science facility that is scheduled for completion in spring 2010.

“We are pleased to support the institute and honored that Westminster has chosen to recognize Great Salt Lake Minerals' contribution,” said Corey Milne, site manager of Great Salt Lake Minerals.

The Meldrum Science Center is the capstone project in the college’s 10-year master plan. The new facility will enable the college to accommodate growing student enrollments, house high-tech equipment and expand critical space for undergraduate research. Furthermore, it will allow for the increasing numbers of science, pre-med, nursing and health care majors. Westminster’s graduates in these areas are highly sought after by health care, biomedical, and research employers throughout Utah and in other states. The Meldrum Science Center will also be the home of the college’s Great Salt Lake Institute, which engages in collaborative ventures with a variety of partners, facilitating interactions between institutions of education, industry, non-profit and government.

“We appreciate Great Salt Lake Minerals and their support for Westminster’s commitment to excellence in the sciences,” said President Michael S. Bassis. “By naming the office of the director of our Great Salt Lake Institute, they help further discovery of this unique and understudied resource.”

Designed by VCBO Architects and being constructed by Big-D Construction, the Meldrum Science Center will have 14 open and flexible classroom/laboratories and five dedicated undergraduate research laboratories. These state-of-the-art learning spaces will also house high-tech, analytical equipment that is normally reserved for graduate study. The $30 million facility science center is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Construction began in June 2008 for the facility, which is scheduled to open for classes for the fall 2010 semester.

About Great Salt Lake Minerals
Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation has been operating on the shores of the Great Salt Lake near Ogden, Utah since 1970. The company produces salt, potassium sulfate (also known as sulfate of potash or SOP) and magnesium chloride, using solar evaporation. Great Salt Lake Minerals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Compass Minerals.

About Westminster College:
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. Peter Behrens, former vice chairman of Great Salt Lake Minerals, served as a Westminster trustee for more than 15 years. For more information, visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter