Monday afternoon, Corning Community College officials kicked off the construction of the school's first ever residential hall with a groundbreaking ceremony. Our Bill Mich was on hand and has more on the impact this new dorm will bring to CCC.

CORNING, N.Y. -- Overturning the first shovel of dirt on a construction project is generally just ceremonial, but Monday's groundbreaking at Corning Community College was a big deal on campus.

"We're going to have a service that Corning Community College has never had before. And I am very pleased to be able to provide that service for our students," said CCC President Dr. Katherine Douglas.

By the start of the fall 2013 semester, students will have a brand new residence hall, the first ever on the CCC campus. The $16 million project will have room for 322 students and living on campus will open them up to new opportunities.

"Many more of the students, beyond just the student living on campus will bring other students into extracurricular activities, sporting activities, study groups, all of those sorts of things. It will even add to the collegiality that occurs on the campus today," said CCC Regional Board of Trustees President, Thomas Blumer.

Because the new dorm will not be open until next year, there are students who will not get the chance to live on campus. But one of those graduating students believes that once the option of not having to commute to class becomes a reality, CCC will become an even bigger destination.

"If they want to get out of the rule of their parents and have an opportunity to really see what it's like to be own their own and sort of explore their freedom, I think they're going to have a wonderful opportunity to do that here," said CCC Student Trustee Matthew Kelly.

And when the doors finally open, college officials have high expectations of the dorm's impact.

"With this, we will be making memories for our students. Memories that will last a lifetime," Douglas said.

And hopefully draw in even more students to the already growing school.