State Senate Republican Leader Louis C. DeLuca (R-Woodbury) was honored today by the UConn Advocates for his support of the 21st Century UConn project. The ten-year $1.25 billion construction plan was approved this year as part of the budget agreement that Senator DeLuca helped craft with the Governor and other legislative leaders.

“The University of Connecticut has grown into a world class institution for higher learning, so it is never a question of having to convince anyone of its importance to the state,” said Senator DeLuca. “I am glad that we were able to work together with the university and within the legislature to craft a plan that best put UConn in a position to grow and expand over the next decade. Maintaining UConn’s stature as our strong flagship state university is a mission that I am certain the legislature will always be willing to find ways to accomplish. I am proud to have helped in this latest effort, and I thank the UConn Advocates for awarding me this honor.”

The 21st Century UConn plan will involve 50 new construction projects at the Storrs and UConn branch campuses that will be completed by the year 2015. The plan expands on the original “UConn 2000” project that was approved in 1995, and committed roughly $1 billion to an initial set of infrastructure improvements. The UConn Advocates, who honored Senator DeLuca, are a coalition of UConn alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff who work to build greater support for the University.