WISE, Va. --

A new health and wellness center addition at the University of Virginias College at Wise will move forward with a ground-breaking ceremony next week.

The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. July 19 on the lawn next to Bowers-Sturgill Hall.

The center will include an addition to the Slemp Student Centers existing fitness center and renovate 5,833 square feet of the Fred B. Greear Gymnasium, according to a written statement from the college. The renovation will add 11,000 square feet to the existing facility and house a new exercise area, a multipurpose room for yoga, dance and other classes, two conference rooms for health advising and instruction and locker rooms. The gyms renovation will include a new entryway and refurbished restrooms and locker rooms.

The renovations are thanks to an $8.3 million pledge from Richard and Leslie Gilliam. Richard Gilliam, a native of Wise, graduated from the college in 1974, and his wife Leslie is from Jonesville, Va.

My wife Leslie and I are delighted to help provide UVa-Wise with new facilities for fitness, Richard Gilliam said in the statement. Our goal is to provide for UVa-Wise in a way that will assist the school in attracting and retaining students and to support and encourage a healthy lifestyle for students.

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UVa-Wise to hold health and wellness center groundbreaking