Winona State University Friday formally dedicated one of its two new dormitories along Mark Street as it honored two graduates of the university.
              
The East building is now officially named Kirkland Hall in honor of Melvin and Lois Kirkland of the class of 1949.

The Kirkland's estate made the largest-ever donation to date to WSU for scholarships, totaling 1-point-25 million dollars in addition to other donations they made over the years.

Good friend Keith Haugen  remembered asking Melvin about an early donation of 49-thousand dollars to WSU.

WSU Vice President Jim Schmidt says the Kirklands donation was just an example of their long time legacy .

The dedication of Kirkland Hall honored the Kirklands love of travel, which led them around the globe several times and brought them to settle in Hawaii upon their retirement in 1979. Haugen and his wife Carmen, both Hawaiian musicians, performed songs for the dedication ceremony.