RALEIGH, N.C. (June 14, 2010) - Peace College will name its newest residence hall after outgoing President Laura Carpenter Bingham and her husband, Warren Bingham.

The unanimous decision of the college's Board of Trustees was announced Friday during a dinner event hosted by the trustees to honor the Binghams. Laura Bingham is retiring as president next month after serving for 12 years in the post at the Raleigh liberal arts and sciences college for women. Bingham is the college's first alumna president.

Todd Robinson, chair of the Board of Trustees, praised Bingham for her service to Peace.

"The hallmarks of her presidency have been her passion for Peace, the place, and her love of its students," Robinson said. "Her many significant accomplishments as president reiterate her student-centered focus - from the millions of dollars that have been raised for scholarships, to the endowed professorships that have been established in fine arts, business, leadership and international study, to the internships she has encouraged friends and alumnae in the business community to sponsor."

Completed in 2005 at a cost of $4.5 million, Bingham Hall contains apartment-style residences for 66 students. It is designated primarily for juniors and seniors. It is situated on land on the north side of Peace's downtown Raleigh campus which was acquired by the college during Bingham's tenure.

A naming ceremony will be held in the fall after students have returned to campus, Robinson said.

During Friday's event, former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan, for whom Bingham worked as a staffer when she was in her 20s, presented Bingham the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, granted to her by Gov. Beverly Perdue. The Order is among the most prestigious honors granted by North Carolina's governor.

Peace College is a four-year baccalaureate arts and sciences college that offers a challenging program of study that provides women strong intellectual and personal foundations upon which to build successful and meaningful professional and academic careers. Peace's educational program consistently earns the college rankings in the top 10 percent in several categories of the National Survey of Student Engagement.