esu foundation
CAMPAIGN Fundraising for academic programs, athletic facilities and increasing available scholarship funds for students has been a focus for the ESU Foundation over the past year. Partnering with multiple university departments in its efforts, the Foundation has hit or surpassed goals in several fundraising campaigns with exciting projects that benefit students soon to be realized. Below is an update to several fundraising campaigns and their respective projects:
You Win in the Locker Room First Campaign The $750,000 fundraising campaign to build a new Warrior football locker room in Koehler Fieldhouse has crossed $874,000. Demolition of the space began in April with expectations of completion of the new locker room by the fall football season. The locker room will be built in the current visiting team locker room footprint, a space larger than the current locker room. Within the new space, the 18-inch metal lockers will be replaced by 30-inch-wide, open, state-of-the-art, cherry-wood lockers. The inefficient drying room will be replaced with a pad drying system on top of each locker. The closed, row system of lockers will be replaced by an open concept to enhance student-athlete interaction, coach communication, and team engagement.
Esports Lab The ESU Foundation has raised $225,000 to purchase equipment and construct ESU’s emerging electronic sports (Esports) program. The Esports lab will create an innovative game-based learning environment that develops new models of learning, specifically in emerging digital media technology fields where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles can be shared. ESU will purchase state-of-the-art computers, software, gaming furniture and equipment for the lab space that will be located on the first floor of Rosenkrans East.
Community Health Education and Simulation Center
To date, more than $138,000 in cash, verbal and written commitments have been received for the project. When complete, the $2.5 million facility will attract top talent to ESU, it will aid in admissions for student-athletes, and provide a home facility where alumni, family and fans can attend games and events. Its features will include a new NCAA regulation turf soccer field, perimeter fencing, spectator seating, field lighting, a press box, scoreboard and sound system.
More than 1,100 square feet in the DeNike Center for Human Services has been earmarked for the Community Health Education & Simulation Center. The center will offer simulation training for nursing, athletic training, and other health science students, regional healthcare professionals, and community members. This environment will complement traditional academic offerings. Once the simulation lab is functional, the lab will be regarded as an attractive feature to complement health studies at ESU. It will also be available for use by many stakeholders in the region.
For more information on how to support these projects, please contact the ESU Foundation at esufoundation@esufoundation.org or 570-422-3333.
More than $850,000 has been raised for the project, which had an original target amount of $750,000.
Sheska Stadium Campaign To be named after Jerry Sheska ’68, ESU’s men’s soccer coach for 29 years (1982-2010) and women’s coach for three (1992-1994), Sheska Soccer Stadium will be built in the heart of campus adjacent to Eiler-Martin Stadium where the baseball field was once located.
Artist’s rendering of Sheska Soccer Stadium
16 the alumni herald
Illustration of the type of work in the Community Health Education & Simulation Center.
