Hancock Lights Buildings Blue
MAY 4, 2020-- Santa Maria residents passing by Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus in the evenings may have noticed something different about the exterior lighting on the college’s Administration and Student Services buildings.
For the last two weeks, the college has bathed the two buildings in blue light to thank and honor the first responders and health care professionals risking their lives to keep their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we are working from home and sheltering in place, these brave men and women are putting their own health at risk to keep our college and our community safe and healthy,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “We want to show them that we appreciate their dedicated service.”
The college began utilizing the new lighting on April 20. Hancock’s Facilities department worked with lighting experts from the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA), using specialized lighting gels to create the blue-colored light. The blue lighting on both buildings turns on 20 minutes before sunset and shuts off 20 minutes after sunrise each day.
“We were delighted to respond to President Walthers’ great idea,” said PCPA Artistic Director/Associate Dean Mark Booher. “PCPA is always trying to lighten and enlighten the community from the stage. At this time when our stages are dark, we couldn’t be happier to work with our facilities colleagues to use some of the blue gels, that we usually use for theatrical purposes, to change the hue of campus buildings in honor of all the amazing front-line workers in public health and safety. They are the shining lights of our whole community.”
Hancock joins several major U.S. cities and educational institutions in using blue lighting to signal support for first responders and professional healthcare workers. Many employees serving in those professions locally are Hancock graduates themselves. The college continues to train police, firefighters, EMS technicians and correctional officers at its Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc, as well as the next generation of health care workers through its medical assisting and nursing programs.
“Hancock is proud of our legacy of producing highly-trained public servants. We know that they are out there right now providing people in their communities with the very best care,” said Walthers. “We thank them and all of our first responders and health care professionals for the important work they are doing during this very challenging time.”
- AHC -
Photo Caption: Allan Hancock College’s Administration building is lit blue to honor first responders and health care professionals.
