A new marquee, which will display academic, college and athletic news digitally to drivers along Hunter Street, is scheduled to be operational in a couple months.
The sign, which was made a reality with the help from the Pepsi Fund and the Auxiliary Fund of EPCC, should start flashing college news later this semester, according to Juan Flores, EPCC property manager.
Construction on the sign began during the summer.
Additionally, there are three panels just under the scrolling messages that will be used for advertising. Pepsi will be featured on one of the panels, according to Tim
Nugent, EPCC vice president of student services.
Nugent said the money made from the advertisers would go towards the college’s auxiliary fund.
EPCC is currently working with the El Paso Electric Co. to power the new device.
The cost of the marquee was $53,370.
“The marquee’s advantages are to attract new students, promote the campus and sporting events, as well as to advertise,” said Flores.
According to Flores, the 24-hour digital sign will also define EPCC as a more modern college to the numerous people that travel on Hunter Street.
“People, on average, spend 50 hours in a car a week,” said Flores.
The question as to whether the marquee will be a good investment, still has to be answered.
Marie Ortiz, a returning student at EPCC, believes that students will be indifferent concerning the marquee because they can get their college news online.
“It could be a waste of cash,” said Edna De La Riva, a new EPCC student. She doesn’t think that people will notice it that much.
“There are better things they could have bought,” she added.
