Groundbreaking for Sharp Family Champion Center April 25
Joe Denoyer - April 9, 2019 8:28 am
Following approval by the Seward County Community College Board of Trustees Monday night, SCCC President Dr. Ken Trzaska signed a contract Tuesday to begin construction of the Sharp Family Champions Center. Part of the “Students First, Community Always” capital campaign implemented by the SCCC Foundation, the Champions Center is the result of a long-term vision by lead donors Gene and JoAnn Sharp of Liberal.
“The Sharps and our former baseball coach and athletic director Galen McSpadden came up with the idea, literally, with a sketch on a napkin,” said Trzaska. “Now, a decade later, I’m proud to see this day finally arrive. We appreciate everyone who has been involved in this process. A heartfelt thank you to our lead donors Gene and JoAnn Sharp, Galen and Debbie McSpadden and to Gary and Gwen Dunnam.”
Chief Development Officer Tano Tovilla posted a photo of Trzaska signing the contract with American Iron Construction with the caption, “Historic moment for SCCC!”
“It is historic, for sure,” he said. “We’re just so excited to see the community come together to fund this project and support our Saints and the Liberal Bee Jays, and the athletes who grow up in Liberal. It’s a great thing.”
Groundbreaking for the first phase of the Champions Center is scheduled for April 25, 2019. A ceremony at 11 a.m. will honor the Sharps, McSpadden, and key donors Gary and Gwen Dunnam, on the construction site itself, at the south edge of campus (adjacent to the tennis courts). It will be followed by a Saints Spirit Rally and Ballpark Cookout on the home spectator side of the Brent Gould Baseball Field. The Saints Baseball team is slated to play a double header against Pratt Community College that afternoon
“We want this to be a big celebration for our Saints family,” said Tovilla. “We invite people to stay and eat with us, and cheer at the game afterwards.”
The project, funded completely through donations to the campaign, is expected to complete this Phase 1 construction by the end of summer.
