The ribbon was cut and words of thanks were bestowed at the official opening of Eastern’s new food court Friday.

The grand opening of the new and improved food court took place at 10 a.m. inside the doors of its south entrance in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Although students have been dining at the food court since Jan. 31, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was a chance to recognize the efforts of those involved in the process of building the food court.

“This gives us an opportunity to thank a lot of people,” Shirley Stewart, acting vice president of student affairs, said as she addressed the crowd at the ceremony.

Besides words of praise, refreshments were given out to those who attended the ceremony and interim President Lou Henken gave a short speech about the new addition, as well as his hopes for the future of the university.

“This is so exciting,” Hencken said. “It makes Eastern Illinois University a better place.

“It’s great for the students, it’s great for the faculty and it’s great for the staff.”

The addition of the new food court as well as the other new facilities on campus have brought a level of pride to Eastern’s campus, he said.

“I think this is paying off,” he said. “Applications have gone up 28 percent and that must have something to do with the new facilities we have on campus.”

Stewart said the “project went very well.”

“The finished result was absolutely outstanding and the students seem very pleased,” she said.

The $4.5 million, year-long construction of the new food court adds more than 100 seats to the facility, a redesigned layout and space for two new dining offerings.