Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton and
Gregg Floyd, Kent State senior vice president for finance
and administration, cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening
of a $4.5 million addition to the current Field House. They
are surrounded by Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen (left)
and staff from Kent State's Intercollegiate Athletics
department.

Kent State University coaches and athletes joined university administrators and donors for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 25 to celebrate the opening of a $4.5 million addition to the current Field House.

The 12,000-square foot addition, added to the south side of the Field House, will provide locker rooms for field hockey, softball, women's soccer and men's and women's track and field/cross country athletes. The building also includes coaches' locker rooms, athletic training facilities and a new entryway into the Field House.

"It's truly an honor to work with such outstanding individuals to see this facility develop from a hope and dream to reality, to see the smiles on our students' faces when they talk about the building and its importance," says Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen. "This is one of the first of many wonderful additions to our campus and our athletic facilities."

The Field House addition is the initial phase of the Kent State Athletic Department's "Building Champions" initiative and part of the university's "Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future" initiative. The goal of the initiative is to raise $60 million through private donors, which will be used to fund scholarships and various athletic facilities’ enhancement projects.

"For our student-athletes, it is a wonderful project that has enhanced their Kent State experience," says Rob Marinaro, women's soccer coach. "The entire program is grateful for everyone's support in making this a reality."