The new residence hall will house 350 students this fall.

DALTON, Ga. — In the past, Autumn Hooton never saw a reason to stay on campus at Dalton State College since she lived just 20 minutes away in Ringgold.

Now she is preparing to move into Mashburn Hall, the new dorm on campus, next month, “really excited because it will give me the college experience I thought of as a kid,” said Hooton, a rising junior. The fall semester begins Aug. 15.

A ribbon cutting, ceremony and open house were held Thursday morning at DSC for the new dorm. Students, administrators, professors, alumni and supporters gathered for the 15-minute ceremony before touring the building.

Jodi Johnson, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, said the college will have gone from having 60 residents at the Wood Valley complex, former apartments that the college was using as on-campus housing, in the fall of 2009, to 350 at Mashburn.

“It’s a great day and this is an incredible group,” she said.

Ron Reed, representing the University System of Georgia, said the new dorm is modern, attractive and high quality. He called it a testament to the growth and success of Dalton State and its commitment to providing quality housing to students.

Jasmine McWhorter said she is also excited to be moving into Mashburn Hall.

“It’s more modern, and it fits with what the school is trying to do,” she said.

Her mother, Shanetta McWhorter, said she’s “thrilled” about the new dorm.

“I think it will allow more camaraderie and interaction among the students,” she said.

“I feel more secure with her in this building,” she added. “I  think this personifies campus life.”

Students must use their student identity card to enter the dorm, and a front desk will be staffed “much of the day and evening,” a press release said.

Mashburn Hall has four floors and features 120 units with 365 beds in one-, two- and four-bedroom suites. On floors one and three are kitchens, two and four have game rooms, each floor has a laundry room and there are spaces set aside for studying. There are also an outdoor patio, a fire pit and a covered veranda. The building was designed with upgraded Wi-Fi.

Tori Holden is one of 11 resident assistants.

“I’m excited, being a resident assistant is one of my college dreams,” she said. Holden is a sophomore from Buford.

She said she’s looking forward to interacting with the students.

Dominik Miller, a junior from Decatur, said she loves the new dorm.

“I love the closet space, it’s very nice,” she said.

She said she’s really looking forward to meeting students on her hall.

“I feel like this is a wonderful thing for our community,” she said.

DSC President Margaret Venable said the dorm is a fitting tribute to John Willis Mashburn, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who passed away in 2009. Since 2012 more than $4 million has gone toward scholarships and other charitable items involving the college because of Mashburn’s generosity.

“As we celebrate the opening of Mashburn Hall we honor the life of John Mashburn,” Venable said.

Brent Reid, the CEO of Winter Construction which built the dorm, said it seems like yesterday his staff was discussing how to become a part of the building process.

“It’s amazing to think that in the blink of an eye we have a dorm that students will live in for years to come,” he said.

Derrick Henderson, the head resident of Mashburn Hall, called the occasion “joyous.”

“It’s given students like myself the opportunity to see what Dalton State College is destined for,” he said.