NEC Breaks Ground On Artificial Turf Field
More than 200 people gathered at the construction site of the New England College artificial turf field on Friday, November 13 for the official groundbreaking ceremony. Michele Perkins, President of New England College opened the ceremony by thanking the many donors who have made the project possible. “There are many reasons to give,” she noted. “For alumni, it’s about giving back to an institution that has played a transformative role in their lives. For corporations and foundations, it is good citizenship. We give to projects that have particular meaning for us. We give in honor and in memory of those we love, and we give because it is the right thing to do. But there is another reason,” she added. “We give as a way of creating positive change in the world. As donors we become the agents of change.”
Additional speakers at the ceremony included Dr. James Murtha, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Eric Collins, President of the New England College Student Senate, Lori Runksmeier, Director of Athletics, and Peter Flynn Administrator for the Town of Henniker.
According to Perkins, the construction of the turf field signifies the first major building project the College has undertaken since the completion of the Center for Educational Innovation in 2001. “This project is significant in many ways,” noted Perkins. “It is an investment in the students of this College, in the varsity and recreational sports that are integral to their learning experience here. This turf field will become the cornerstone of the College’s athletic program as we bring additional projects on line and improve existing facilities.” Perkins went on to explain, “A building project of this type is an outward demonstration of the financial strength and viability of the College. Given the fact that the cost of the turf field was secured entirely through fundraising, this project is a testament to the College’s ability to engage committed donors.”
“Facilities matter,” stated Chairman Murtha. “They tell everyone that we value what our students do, that we care about them, and we want them to excel in their academic and co-curricular work.”
The total cost of the turf field is projected at $1.5 million dollars. Through corporate commitment and an anonymous challenge grant, more than $1.2 million dollars have been raised. With the successful fundraising campaign nearly complete, the College began site preparation in mid-October and estimates that the new field will be ready to use in the spring of 2010. Included in the scope of the project will be a scoreboard and a state-of-the-art lighting system that conforms to environmentally sound practice and emits extremely low light pollution.
Perkins elaborated further on the significance of the project by saying, “The construction of an artificial turf field will allow the College to host NCAA tournament games. New England College is a member of The Commonwealth Coast Conference. Of the fourteen schools in the Conference, nine already have or are constructing turf fields. A turf field at NEC will add more consistency to Conference competition.”
Demand for the artificial turf field will be high, acknowledged President Perkins. “Not only will this space be used by our men’s and women’s lacrosse and soccer teams and our field hockey team, but there will be opportunities for classes, club sports, recreational sports, individual users, and community groups to take advantage of this outstanding facility."
