2008 Woodie Awards
New facilities on campus attract prospective athletes
By: Alison Kemp
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Campus
New buildings are more than spaces for classes, activities and events. They are also recruiting tools.
In addition to having quality faculty members and coaches in a warm atmosphere, new facilities help draw prospective students to the University, said Doug Smith, vice president of university advancement and chief executive officer of the BGSU Foundation.
The newest planned addition to campus is the Stroh Center, which will be partially funded by an $8 million donation from Kermit Stroh and his family. The center will be the new home for basketball and volleyball programs.
"The convocation center is a very, very needed building and structure on our campus," said Stroh, who made the donation with his wife, Mary Lu, and children.
Other new or planned buildings include the Wolfe Center for Performing Arts, the Sebo Athletic Center and Ice Arena renovations.
"The convocation center will bring a greater awareness to our community," Stroh said. "It not only brings a great place to sports, but it brings to the students a place for graduation and concerts."
Smith has worked with Stroh for the past 10 years to talk about and structure the donation Stroh wanted to make.
Smith said the foundation's goal is to "raise money to provide that margin of excellence."
The Stroh Center is "a real resource that will allow us to do things we currently can't do," he said.
Stroh's relationship with BGSU began in the early '60s when he did radio broadcasts of high school basketball games held at Anderson Arena.
"I learned to love the people there," he said. He met three individuals who had a great passion for the University, and they shared their passion with him. This led him to want to help with athletics and academics.
"There's a continual movement of things that need to be done [at BGSU]," Stroh said.
"Anderson Arena was a great, great place, but it's used up its usefulness," Stroh said, referring to the arena's lack of handicap accessibility, small number of restrooms and general aging.
In addition to having quality faculty members and coaches in a warm atmosphere, new facilities help draw prospective students to the University, said Doug Smith, vice president of university advancement and chief executive officer of the BGSU Foundation.
The newest planned addition to campus is the Stroh Center, which will be partially funded by an $8 million donation from Kermit Stroh and his family. The center will be the new home for basketball and volleyball programs.
"The convocation center is a very, very needed building and structure on our campus," said Stroh, who made the donation with his wife, Mary Lu, and children.
Other new or planned buildings include the Wolfe Center for Performing Arts, the Sebo Athletic Center and Ice Arena renovations.
"The convocation center will bring a greater awareness to our community," Stroh said. "It not only brings a great place to sports, but it brings to the students a place for graduation and concerts."
Smith has worked with Stroh for the past 10 years to talk about and structure the donation Stroh wanted to make.
Smith said the foundation's goal is to "raise money to provide that margin of excellence."
The Stroh Center is "a real resource that will allow us to do things we currently can't do," he said.
Stroh's relationship with BGSU began in the early '60s when he did radio broadcasts of high school basketball games held at Anderson Arena.
"I learned to love the people there," he said. He met three individuals who had a great passion for the University, and they shared their passion with him. This led him to want to help with athletics and academics.
"There's a continual movement of things that need to be done [at BGSU]," Stroh said.
"Anderson Arena was a great, great place, but it's used up its usefulness," Stroh said, referring to the arena's lack of handicap accessibility, small number of restrooms and general aging.
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