HARTSVILLE, S.C. (WBTW)-Hartsville city council recently approved a resolution supporting a loan of nearly 3-million dollars to go towards a new residence hall at Coker College. With downtown revitalization in full-swing at Hartsville, this multi-million dollar investment works hand-in hand with that.
“My first year was the first year in the program.”
Ryan Vento moved from Long Island New York to join a first-year lacrosse program at Coker College.
Vento said this was one chance he’s glad he took.
 “Now that I can look back after four years and see what  it’s become with the new Deloach center the lofts, the flats, I think it’s incredible, it makes me really proud to be a Cobra.”
Vento says in his four short years here Coker College has grown so much, he can’t imagine what is next for the school.
“Four years from now, who knows, we might be looking at twice, three times the size, we can be looking at Coker taking up all of Hartsville.”
And his aspirations for his soon to be alma mater aren’t too far-fetched.
 “Each year we’ve done a little bit better than the previous years we’re probably expected to be around 1200 to 1250 in the fall and because of the enrollment numbers we keep having to build residence halls,” said Steve Terry, Vice President of enrollment and contract services.
While Coker College students and administration are excited for these new additions happening at Coker College, they aren’t the only ones. One city employee says this new growth is good for the city as a whole.
 “It diversifies the economy, it improves educational opportunities and Coker College being located adjacent to downtown, we have a downtown that’s improving all the time and it’s wonderful to have Coker College there as part of it,” said Russell Cox, the public information officer for the city of Hartsville.
As for Vento, while he may be putting the books down soon, he may not be packing his bags just yet.
“I’m looking to go wherever the opportunity is and if that’s in Hartsville, South Carolina…I love this town.”
The new loan allows for the second residential hall to be built at Coker College but administration says in the long run, they plan to have six residential halls in total as eighty percent of their students all live on campus.