A progressive president and a campus renaissance motivated local businessman Eddie Hakim to construct a new University of Louisiana at Monroe sign and entrance, complete with landscaping, on Northeast Drive, just east of Highway 165.

The community is encouraged to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the entrance, which spans an entire block, Thursday, May 17 at 10 a.m.

The new sign and surrounding landscaping greets visitors as they travel Northeast Drive through the heart of the ULM campus. The sign is made of brick and cast stone.

Hakim, who donated all of the labor and most of the materials, approached ULM President James Cofer about 18 months ago, wanting to contribute to ULM. Hakim has lived in Monroe all of his life, and recently for the first time, he felt motivated to give to the university.

Referencing all of the new construction and other positive changes at ULM in the past few years, Hakim said, “Dr. Cofer makes you want to give. He’s always upbeat, and he makes you want to do more. When things are successful, people want to be a part of that."

Others who donated to the project, which includes an underground drainage system and surrounding sidewalks, are Jackie Rosenberg of Sol’s Pipe and Steel in Monroe and Bob Humble of Century Ready Mix, also located in Monroe. Rosenberg donated the steel, and Humble donated some of the concrete.

Of future contributions to ULM, Hakim said, "This is just the beginning of what we want to do for the university.”

Photo by Richard Lupo, University Photo Services