LEFT TO RIGHT: Shirley Avant-Ferguson, education services officer, Ken Steggemen, director of the Directorate of Human Resources, Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, deputy commanding general for the 1st Infantry Division, and Col. John Lawrence, Fort Riley...

FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Fort Riley Soldiers, civilians and family members celebrated the rededication and ribbon-cutting of Wainwright Hall, 211 Custer Ave. July 18. Following a remodeling project, the building is now home to Fort Riley Education Services.

Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, deputy commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, was the guest speaker.

"Buildings like Wainwright Hall have ensured that Soldiers at Fort Riley have been on point for the nation as those trained and educated in this building deployed around the globe to defeat our country's enemies and support our allies," Frank said.

Wainwright Hall, known as the U.S. Army Cavalry School, was built in 1889. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, whom the building is named for, served in this hall on three occasions, first as a cavalry student in 1915, then as the tactics instructor from 1920 to 1921 and finally as the school director from 1931 to 1933. He survived the Bataan Death March where he was held as a prisoner of war for 39 months. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service.

"This building has experienced fire and reconstruction, but the facility you are about to enter has the spirit of the cavalry school," Frank said.

The renovations to the building include a new auditorium, office space and classrooms.

Every counselor has his or her own office. All of the windows have been modernized and the building now complies with American with Disability Act guidance. The renovations were all done while preserving the historical value of the building.

The Consortium of Fort Riley's on-post colleges will be working in the building. This includes the following colleges: Central Michigan University, University of Mary, Upper Iowa University, Kansas State University, Southwestern College, Central Texas College, Hutchinson Community College and Barton Community College.

"Today we bring Wainwright Hall back into the mission of providing education for our Soldiers," Frank said.

For more information about education services at Fort Riley, call 785-239-6481.