President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told students Wednesday to be grateful for their educational opportunities in a dedication ceremony for the new LDS Business College.

Last month the school's 1,300 students started classes in a 10-story, 150,000 square-foot arm of the Triad building that dwarfs the college's former facility on South Temple.

"We have left behind a choice property on South Temple but we will soon discover that this facility is even better, and so I say enjoy it, be grateful for the opportunity you have of attending school here and pray to the Lord for guidance in pursuing your academic quests," President Hinckley told students.

The new campus is LDS Business College's eighth home in 120 years and more than twice the size of the former campus housed in a mansion and surrounding buildings.

"The library is larger, the testing center and the student commons areas are larger, everywhere we turn we find more space to accommodate our record enrollments," college President Stephen Woodhouse said. "But with all growth we have not increased class sizes."

He said classrooms were purposely built small and class sizes remain anywhere from 20 to 40 students in order to keep a high level of interaction between the students and the faculty and maintain the "family feeling" that has been the hallmark of the college.

President Hinckley said he volunteered to dedicate the school because he had a special interest in the institution.

His parents met at the college, and both his father and mother taught at the school.

Speaking on the future, President Hinckley noted that Brigham Young University's Salt Lake City campus will also be moved to the Triad Center. The two adjoining schools will share a library and bookstore.

"This will become a great educational center, easier to reach on the TRAX line ... all together nothing could be better than what we will have here," President Hinckley.

More than 1,000 students along with community leaders gathered at the school for the dedication. Some students said having the church president dedicate their school creates an atmosphere that they wouldn't get at other colleges.

"It makes it nice to know that there is a spirit here — a good one," said first-year student Heather Gardner. "It makes it more comfortable and homey and it's not just a regular college because there's a spirit with it."

---

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com