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ATHENS - [watch] The UGA Navy Supply Corps School that's been housed on Prince Avenue for the past fifty-seven years is moving out and heading to Newport, Rhode Island just a few months from now. The campus is going to be given back to the University of Georgia where it will become the new Health Sciences campus.  

There was a ceremony Thursday morning at the Navy School where President Michael Adams, Mayor Heidi Davison, and Commanding Officer of the Navy Supply Corps School Captain William Hayes spoke about how the school will be honored in its last months of operation. 

The School is planning a Navy flyover at the UGA football game on September 4. They're also planning a concert on September 17, a 5K run, a bar-b-que, a golf tournament, and a Navy Ball. All of those events are open to the public to show the school's campus return to the community.

Davison says, "What we really hope to leave with our friends is a strong and lasting impression of the deep gratitude for their service to our country and very much to this community."

Hayes added, "I'm really sad to see us leave Athens, but we've enjoyed our time here."  

Many of the people at the ceremony spoke about the Navy's commitment to helping the Athens community with Toys for Tots and other charitable fundraisers.  

The school will be officially turned over to UGA's Health Science classes at the beginning of March.

Danny Sniff in the Facilities Planning Department at UGA reinforced the school's desire to make changes that are necessary but to try to spend as little as possible and preserve the history of the area.  He says, "The edge of the building towards Prince Avenue, and the edge of the building towards Oglethorpe will be kind of a no-build area.  So we want to respect those setbacks and sidelines so that as people drive up and down Prince Avenue and Oglethorpe Avenue, the historical vistas and views are intact."

Chris Shutt, who is an instructor at the Navy Supply Corps School, says he's going to miss the place. He says, "Knowing that what has been going on here for the past fifty-seven years is now coming to an end...yeah, it's disappointing, but at the same time it's awesome to know that we're moving on to start another chapter in our history and heritage."