Southwest Baptist
University News Release
Contact: Charlotte
Marsch, Director of Marketing and Communications
417-328-1803
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Mabee Foundation recently issued a
$300,000 challenge grant toward the $1.5 million Turf and Track Renovation
project at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar.
In order to receive the
grant funding, the university must raise an additional $231,000 by June 30,
which will complete the project.
“We are extremely
grateful to the Mabee Foundation for approving this grant to help us finish out
this project,” SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor said. “The Mabee Foundation has
been extremely generous to SBU for decades, contributing approximately $3
million to facility projects on campus.”
Built in 1985 and named
for Robert W. Plaster, who was a major contributor to the project, SBU’s
Plaster Stadium houses a football field and track. The stadium’s grass field
will be replaced with a safer, all-weather synthetic turf for the football and
soccer programs, as well as a state-of-the-art competition track. The stadium
press box will be renovated and new lockers added to the Plaster Athletic
Center. The renovations will benefit SBU students and the Bolivar community for
years to come. Both the SBU and Bolivar High School varsity football teams host
games on the field each fall.
The University plans to
have the artificial turf installed and all the renovations completed by the
fall of 2013.
"We are indeed
grateful for the generosity of the Mabee Foundation and for the many other
individuals and organizations who believe in the benefit this will provide, not
only to SBU, but to the Bolivar community," said Dr. Brad Johnson, vice
president for university relations. "We are fortunate to live in a
community where so many people believe in SBU and its mission to serve
students.”
Naming opportunities are
still available. For more information, contact Johnson at (417) 328-1805
or bjohnson@sbuniv.edu or
Taylor at (417) 328-1500 or ptaylor@sbuniv.edu.
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Southwest Baptist
University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating
Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at
an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic
community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For
more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
