WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 27, 2015 — A new opportunity for students to design renovations to a student lounge in Krise Hall is in full swing at West Liberty University.

Interested students attended question and answer sessions throughout February to take part in the design contest. The contest was open to all students and designs could be submitted by individuals or by teams of students. The winning design will be announced in March.

Director of Housing and Residence Life Marcella Snyder and Vice President of Finance Stephanie Hooper are in charge of the design contest. So far, more than 20 students have shown interest in the contest, according to Snyder.

“We welcome student input and are happy to have them involved in this important renovation,” Snyder said. With two towers and five floors to each tower, Krise Hall houses more than 300 students, both first year and upper class students, male and female.

The top design will be selected by a committee consisting of Snyder, Hooper, Area Coordinator of Housing Operations Chris McPherson and WLU graduate student Luke Tacosik, a resident assistant in Krise Hall. McPherson manages Krise Hall.

Winners will receive a prize totaling $2,000 ($1,000 in cash prize and $1,000 in scholarship), and will have a plaque with their names placed on the wall in Krise Hall. If the winning design is a team design the prize will be divided equally among team members.

Additional prizes will be given for other aspects of the design plan. Plus, the final renovations to Krise Hall Lounge may utilize elements of multiple submissions, according to Snyder.

The large lounge includes free Wi-Fi, television, vending machines and a pool table.

Design requirements were to include renovations in lighting, flooring, paint, furniture, artwork and entertainment options, but partial plans also were accepted. Students submitting plans were asked to include budgets.

Students welcome the opportunity to add some new life and color to this popular student hangout, according to Aaron Allman, who is entering the contest.

“Some have said that the current lounge is prison-like and uninviting,” he suggested.

Allman will be assisted in the design planning by fellow student Kaitlin Ward. Both are current residents of Bonar Hall and former residents of Krise Hall. Aaron has experience with carpentry work, and an eye for design and Kaitlin has helped with remodeling her family’s home.

Aaron believes that a new design will “encourage more people to study and have fun in the lounge. Too many people stray away from it because it feels very cold and unfriendly.

“If enough students come up with ideas, we could turn this lounge until the next West Lib Bowling Alley,” Kaitlin said laughingly, referring to a former hot spot that is now defunct but used to attract lots of student acitivity on campus.

Both students believe that this kind of opportunity will bring in more students than might be expected and will provide a fresher look to WLU. For more information, please email msnyder@westliberty.edu.

• Editor’s Note: Media Relations Intern Richard Tyler, a public relations major from St. Clairsville, Ohio, contributed to this press release.