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Celebration 和 Gratitude at MNU’s Copel和 Athletic Complex Groundbreaking
Hundreds gathered September 20, 2023, to mark the groundbreaking for the Copel和 Athletic Complex at MNU. More than 400 MNU student-athletes were among Olathe community members, 市政府官员, 项目捐赠, MNU校友, faculty 和 staff who celebrated the achievement of a dream.
In just over a year, students will have a state-of-the-art football stadium 和 track, ending the need for those athletes to practice 和 compete off campus. The facility will span 11 acres adjacent to Dixon Baseball Stadium, Williams Softball Field, Pioneer Soccer Field, 和库克中心. Boasting cutting-edge amenities, the complex promises to revolutionize the athletic experience for athletes 和 fans alike.
The Copel和 Athletic Complex is named for 1984 MNU alumnus 和 six-term Olathe Mayor, 迈克尔·科普兰. Copel和 passed away August 19, 2020, leaving a mark of incredible leadership on Olathe 和 MNU.
Those in attendance at the groundbreaking heard from Olathe City Man年龄r Michael Wilkes, Fire Chief 和 Director of Emergency Man年龄ment Dr. Jeff DeGraffenreid (’96), Mrs. Maria Copel和 on behalf of the 迈克尔·科普兰 family, MNU总统 大卫Spittal 和 other MNU leaders.
Amazing things have happened on this ground. I call it the second classroom. We are committed to supporting what we ask our students to do…achieve excellence. We want to help students any way we can to rise to their potential.
Dr. 大卫Spittal
MNU总统
Major donors for the project joined Dr. 和夫人. 大卫Spittal (center left), Mrs. Maria Copel和 (center), Josh Copel和 和 Jana Sparrow as the first shovels of dirt were turned on the Copel和 Athletic Complex.
MNU’s athletic 和 student life programs treat practice, competition 和 teamwork as an important learning 和 refining experience that will bolster their success in all areas of life. The investment in spaces for that purpose will reap benefits for generations, just as MNU’s investment in a young man from California who came to Olathe in the 1980s to play football resulted in the longest-serving mayor in Olathe.
Without dedicated volunteers 和 donors who united to raise an astounding $8 million in just one year, the university would not have qualified for a $2-million challenge grant from the J.E. 和L.E. Mabee基金会. The incentive provided by the Mabee基金会 cannot be overstated according to Dr. Jon North, vice president for university advancement. North thanked the community of supporters who made the dream a reality, including The Campaign Committee 和 Copel和 Task Force.
Partners in the planning 和 construction of the project are PGAV建筑师 和 A.L. Huber General Contractor, both of whom were partners on MNU’s Cunningham Center which opened in 2021.
See more photos from the groundbreaking on MNU’s Flickr account at flickr.com/photos/mnu-pioneers, 和 read about the Bright Futures Campaign for MNU at 099886.com/bright-futures.
