Welcome Center Celebrates 20th Birthday

Did You Know? Margaret S. Sugden Welcome Center celebrates 20 years

August 20, 2024

Aerial view of the Margaret S. Sugden Welcome Center on a sunny day. The welcome center is surrounded by greenery, palm trees, a forest to the north side of the center and a lake on the south side.

Aerial view of Sugden Welcome Center

Happy 20th birthday to the Margaret S. Sugden Welcome Center!

The building opened its doors in June 2004 and has been the starting location for campus visits to guests ever since. Before the welcome center was built, tours originally left from McTarnaghan Hall, where the Enrollment Services Center is now located. However, thanks to the generous donation made by Herbert and Margaret Sugden, the university was able to build a place to welcome visitors.

Throughout the years, the welcome center has employed over 180 student guides and 15 bus drivers. It has welcomed more than 250,000 guests from every state and many countries from around the world for campus tours. The goal of the welcome center is to continue providing guests with smiles, great customer service and a connection to FGCU they won’t forget.

A portrait of Herbert Sugden and Margaret Sugden. Standing behind a blue backdrop, Herbert Sugden is on the left side and is wearing a black suit, light blue collared shirt and a multicolored tie. On the right, Margaret Sugden is wearing a red and black jacket, gold earrings and a gold brooch.

Herbert Sugden and Margaret Sugden