At the State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey introduced Terry Saban, wife of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban, as her special guest for the event.

The reason for the introduction, Ivey announced, was that the state will be partnering with the Saban Center and the city of Tuscaloosa to bring about a state-of-the-art STEM center.

The facility would offer interactive learning opportunities in the fields of science , technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. In addition, there will be activities centered around theatre and an outdoor recreational area.

“The Saban Center – a partnership between the Saban family and the city of Tuscaloosa – will be an interactive and immersive STEM experience for young people from all over Alabama,” Ivey said. “And it won’t just be limited to STEM, it will help students become even more well-rounded, exposing them to the arts and, very appropriately, sports sciences.”

The governor said she believes the Saban Center has the potential to be a “learning center for many Alabamians for generations to come.”

“In recognition of this unparalleled generosity, this place of learning (the center) and discovery will be forever known as the Saban Center,” said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. “Tuscaloosa is in competition with the world, and our children deserve an opportunity to compete.”

The center will be in a building that housed the Tuscaloosa News for close to 20 years.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.