2008 Woodie Awards
$8 million donated for new convocation center
By: Tim Sampson
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Campus
The University recently received $8 million, the largest donation in its 100-year history, and will use it to build the new convocation center.
On March 1, the University announced it had received the donation from husband and wife Kermit and Mary Lu Stroh, two long-time supporters of the University.
The convocation center, which will be named the Stroh Convocation Center, will be a 5,000-seat arena on the east side of campus. The project is estimated to cost a total of $36 million and is expected to be completed by 2012.
A $7.7 million portion of the donation will fund the construction of the Stroh Center, which will house basketball and volleyball games, as well as graduation ceremonies and major guest speakers.
An additional $200,000 of the donation will go to intercollegiate athletics, and $100,000 will go toward continued funding of the Kermit and Mary Lu Stroh endowed scholarship.
The Strohs' gift is the largest in the University's history, and administrators held a formal ceremony on March 1 to thank the couple.
"The BGSU community will remember this gift even more than the facility itself," said Marcia Latta, the senior associate vice president for University advancement. "[This] is much less about a facility, but what a family wanted to do for this University."
The gift is just the latest chapter in the Stroh's long history with the University.
Kermit Stroh first came to the University 45 years ago as a play-by-play announcer for high school sporting events played on campus. While speaking at the ceremony, he said he took the job because he wanted to use his time on the radio to get free publicity for the propane gas company he had just started.
From there, the Strohs' relationship with the University grew. The couple watched two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandsons all graduate from BGSU.
Kermit Stroh also served on the University's board of trustees from 1993 to 2002, including two terms as chair. He now serves as co-chair of the University's Building Dreams Centennial Fundraising Campaign.
Kermit Stroh said the convocation center is "a step forward" for the University. He also said the center would help broadcast the University's greatness.
"I want to win, I want to go forward," he said. "We all need to step forward, we cannot continue to be down at the bottom of the barrel."
University Athletic Director Greg Christopher said the center would be a source pride for University teams and would reflect positively on Bowling Green itself.
"Athletics is the front porch to the University," he said. "It's something that people from outside the University who come and visit are going to see and remember."
University President Sidney Ribeau said the center would be more than just a place for basketball and volleyball games.
"We'll finally have a facility for graduation and to attract major speakers and events," Ribeau said. "It's going to serve the University well and for a long, long time."
On March 1, the University announced it had received the donation from husband and wife Kermit and Mary Lu Stroh, two long-time supporters of the University.
The convocation center, which will be named the Stroh Convocation Center, will be a 5,000-seat arena on the east side of campus. The project is estimated to cost a total of $36 million and is expected to be completed by 2012.
A $7.7 million portion of the donation will fund the construction of the Stroh Center, which will house basketball and volleyball games, as well as graduation ceremonies and major guest speakers.
An additional $200,000 of the donation will go to intercollegiate athletics, and $100,000 will go toward continued funding of the Kermit and Mary Lu Stroh endowed scholarship.
The Strohs' gift is the largest in the University's history, and administrators held a formal ceremony on March 1 to thank the couple.
"The BGSU community will remember this gift even more than the facility itself," said Marcia Latta, the senior associate vice president for University advancement. "[This] is much less about a facility, but what a family wanted to do for this University."
The gift is just the latest chapter in the Stroh's long history with the University.
Kermit Stroh first came to the University 45 years ago as a play-by-play announcer for high school sporting events played on campus. While speaking at the ceremony, he said he took the job because he wanted to use his time on the radio to get free publicity for the propane gas company he had just started.
From there, the Strohs' relationship with the University grew. The couple watched two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandsons all graduate from BGSU.
Kermit Stroh also served on the University's board of trustees from 1993 to 2002, including two terms as chair. He now serves as co-chair of the University's Building Dreams Centennial Fundraising Campaign.
Kermit Stroh said the convocation center is "a step forward" for the University. He also said the center would help broadcast the University's greatness.
"I want to win, I want to go forward," he said. "We all need to step forward, we cannot continue to be down at the bottom of the barrel."
University Athletic Director Greg Christopher said the center would be a source pride for University teams and would reflect positively on Bowling Green itself.
"Athletics is the front porch to the University," he said. "It's something that people from outside the University who come and visit are going to see and remember."
University President Sidney Ribeau said the center would be more than just a place for basketball and volleyball games.
"We'll finally have a facility for graduation and to attract major speakers and events," Ribeau said. "It's going to serve the University well and for a long, long time."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Judith Backes
posted 3/11/08 @ 9:23 AM EST
The recent generous donation of Kermit and Mary Lu Stroh is truly a wonderful thing for BGSU! BGSU's reputation for excellence has continued to grow in the state and nation. (Continued…)
Terry
posted 3/12/08 @ 10:12 AM EST
Wow. That last comment sounds like either a bitter ex-student who couldn't hack it or an elitist snob who thinks they're better because they went to anOSU/(Ohio A&M). (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/12/08 @ 11:11 AM EST
BGSU IS a joke. Your going to spend $13mil for a convocation center that might get used 120 times during the school year. That makes sense when you have academic buildings crumbling from within, most of which do not hold enough space for students and equipment, and they are going to remove lot 6 for the arena. (Continued…)
Me
posted 3/12/08 @ 1:25 PM EST
There seems to be a large amount of ignorance going around. While yes, the convocation center will cost around $38 million, most of it will come from donations. (Continued…)
C
posted 3/12/08 @ 3:48 PM EST
It's so good that the University is spending millions of dollars on this as opposed to something pointless like say, EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES!
Rock-solid Abs
posted 3/12/08 @ 3:58 PM EST
I think the U should try to find donations for a new paintball facility, then those of you on different sides can battle it out to see who the 'real' winner is. (Continued…)
architect
posted 3/12/08 @ 4:05 PM EST
Wow! Again, here is more work for us!
Building Grander Solid Unistructures! B-G-S-U!
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