University of Nevada, Reno prospective students were given the opportunity to make their mark on Peavine Hall, Friday, Oct. 17. Students and parents signed their names onto the blue metal beam, which will be used in the new residence hall, scheduled to open in August 2015. More than 230 prospective students as part of Nevada Bound, a program that brings prospective students to campus, were invited to the signing event.

"This is such an amazing opportunity to participate in," Nicole Arima, prospective student from San Francisco, said. "It's really cool to know that we'll be a part of the history of this University."

The 20 to 30-foot beam will be used in the building of Peavine Hall, a five-story residential housing facility. The 114,500 sq.-foot space will be home to nearly 400 students in two- and four-person rooms. Additionally, it will accommodate nine resident advisors, two graduate assistant apartments and one resident director apartment. It will be on the University campus adjacent to Argenta Hall on Sierra Street and Cooper Court. Current students and faculty were also invited to sign their signatures, showing a sense of camaraderie.

"We wanted to make prospective students feel welcome, before they're even a student of the University," Jerry Marczynski, Associate Vice President said.

All halls have an academic emphasis helping students to succeed in their first year of college life.

The new hall will offer another option for freshmen wanting to live on campus. The University is proud to continue providing students with a variety of living options. Upon completion, the new residence hall will be the University's 10th residence hall.

 "This event is a fun way to build cohesion", President Marc Johnson said. "It helps reinforce the sense of community here at the University."

For more information about residential communities at the University and the application process, go to www.unr.edu/housing. More information about construction at the University, including the new residence hall project, can be found at www.unr.edu/construction.