Download the Summer 2004 PDF - Augsburg College

Heightened demand forsport facilities drives SiMelby expansionNearly half of the Augsburg community—students, faculty, and staff—participatespates in some form of athletic activity,contributing to the strong sense of communityand camaraderie on campus.Expanded athletic facilities will accommodatethe increasing demands of theCollege’s 18 intercollegiate NCAADivision III varsity men’s and women’ssports, the health and physical educationacademic program, intramurals involvingsome 600 students, and workout facilities.The ever-growing popularity of personalfitness, the growth in the number ofwomen’s sports offerings, and the heighteneddemand by the community for useof the College’s facilities contribute to thepressing need for expanded facilities.A NEW SOUTH WING FORSI MELBY HALL WILL PROVIDE:• Four new classrooms and related facilitiesfor the Health/Physical EducationDepartment.• More locker rooms, training facilities,and offices for intercollegiate athleticprograms.• Expanded fitness facilities, a new aerobics/multi-purposestudio, and newlocker rooms for the student body.• Additional wrestling training facilities,which include a new Greco-Romanwrestling center.• Two new student gathering areas, a newhospitality suite overlooking EdorNelson Field, and a new AlumniA-Club lounge. ■ALAN RICE, GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING CHAMP ANDPIONEER GIVES ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO ESTABLISHTRAINING CENTERMinnesota nativeAlan Rice is adreamer and apioneer whoselifelong commitmentto amateurand Greco-Romanwrestling has culminatedin a $1 million gift to AugsburgCollege to create a Greco-Romanwrestling training center. This generousgift will have a significant impact on the$5 million planned expansion of SiMelby Hall, the College’s athletic, recreation,and physical education complex.Rice, a National Wrestling Hall ofFame member, is giving the gift in memoryof his wife, Gloria, who shared alove of amateur wrestling and workedwith Rice in establishing Minnesota as anational hotbed for amateur wrestling,especially the Greco-Roman discipline.Rice’s gift illustrates how a partnershipcan be formed with the communityto achieve broader goals in athletics.The addition of the Greco-Roman trainingfacilities will attract senior wrestlerstraining for the Olympics as well asyouth- and student-athletes, and willtake Augsburg to a new level of prominencein athletic achievement.Over the past three decades, Rice hashelped raise and contribute nearly$1 million to endow the Minnesota clubfor continued training in both Olympicwrestling disciplines—Greco-Romanand freestyle. His continuing legacy willhave an impact on Minnesota for generationsto come. ■MATHEW SHANNON—RUNNER AND ROLE MODELMathew Shannonis a man on themove. He runs byday and servesothers at night.A 2004Augsburg graduatewith a degree inbusiness and communication,hedreams of successin running and in making a differencefor disadvantaged kids. While atAugsburg, Shannon broke records intrack, and he hoped to qualify for theU.S. Olympic trials in the 400 meters.One of the top sprinters in Augsburghistory, Shannon was a three-time All-American, earned All-MIAC honors 17times, and won MIAC titles three times.But Shannon is already a winner as atutor and role model for inner-city kids.He knows from personal experiencewhat they’re going through because hegrew up in a low-income, single-parenthome in Minneapolis. Shannon’s faithprovided him with a strong foundationon which to build. Now he hopes thathe can use his business education, too,to bring positive influences to disadvantagedkids. Shannon truly exemplifiesthe spirit of Augsburg. ■12