Ground was broken Friday for The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership, thanks to a $4 million gift from the Wayne M. Densch Charitable Trust and a $1 million gift commitment by the Williams Family Foundation. Leonard Williams, trustee of the Wayne M. Densch Charitable Trust, was instrumental in securing both donations.
聽鈥淲e are very grateful to the Williams family for this generous gift,鈥� said 麻豆原创 Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. 鈥淭hanks to their commitment, our current and future student-athletes will be able to utilize all the benefits the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will provide for years to come.鈥�
聽鈥淥n behalf of my family and in support of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust, I felt there was a need to ensure this project became a reality,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭he leadership at 麻豆原创, Todd Stansbury and Rick Walsh shared with me how important it is not only to have competitive sports facilities, but also how critical it is to make a big investment in the academic, personal and professional development of 麻豆原创 student-athletes,鈥� he said. 鈥淯nder Dr. Hitt鈥檚 leadership, 麻豆原创 has grown significantly. Our family is proud to make this investment.鈥�
聽The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will serve as the headquarters for personal, professional and academic development of nearly 500 Knights student-athletes. The project cost is estimated at $6 million for the three-story, 22,000-square-foot structure. The Center will house 麻豆原创鈥檚 Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Student Services and Compliance departments. The building will include a multi-purpose classroom with space for up to 200 students, a computer lab, tutoring and mentoring rooms, study space and conference and resource rooms. It will be located just east of and adjacent to Bright House Networks Stadium.
聽Construction is set to begin in January, with the project slated for completion in fall 2015.