Dickinson Celebrates the Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center
Tom Hare ’78, P’22, P’25, addresses attendees and stresses the positive impact parents and alumni have on the student-athlete experience at Dickinson. Photo by Dan Loh.
New Center Highlights the Power of Parent, Alumni Engagement
Dickinson celebrated the new Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center this weekend with a ceremony that highlighted the impact of alumni and parent philanthropy on the excellence of Red Devil athletics. Held before morning games for the softball and baseball teams on Saturday, April 22, the event allowed participants to tour the state-of-the-art facility and hear about its importance from a student-athlete, a lead parent donor on the project and Director of Athletics Joel Quattrone.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Dickinson athletics family, this project is another example of how the McAndrews Fund so positively impacts the lives of our student athletes,” said Quattrone of the center, which features new baseball, softball, and men's and women's soccer locker rooms, as well as indoor batting cages, a training room and an indoor golf simulator. “The Dickinson Park facility is nothing short of fantastic. It has taken the student-athlete experience to the next level. Our coaches also proudly highlight it, and it is included in all our recruiting. It's truly a difference maker.”
Tom Hare ’78, P’22, P’25, who together with his wife, Judianne P’22, P’25, was one of the lead donors on the project, also addressed attendees and stressed the positive impact parents and alumni have on the student-athlete experience at Dickinson. “I'm really excited,” said Hare, a former biology major and All-American baseball player at Dickinson who also serves along with his wife on the college's Data Analytics Advisory Committee. “I think we can really do some great things by getting the college, the coaches, the student-athletes and the parents more involved in helping to shape the way we grow Dickinson athletics in the future so that the athletic experience here can be as great as the academic experience.”
Women’s soccer player Lauren Bracken ’23 speaks to attendees about how the facility has enhanced the Red Devil student-athlete experience. Photo by Dan Loh.
Women’s soccer player Lauren Bracken ’23 stressed how the facility has impacted that experience. Beyond just providing training resources, she noted, the Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center has fostered vital bonding among teammates.
“Being on a team during college goes far beyond the work we put on the field,” she told attendees, noting that the facility also has enhanced the team’s ability to break down film together, scout other teams and prepare for games. “I've gained so much more than the on-field accomplishments while on the women's soccer team. It is equally important to have both a good culture and relationships as it is to be physically prepared on the field. And having a space at the Dickinson Park Athletic Training Center to spend time with my team has helped with this.”
Attendees tour the facility's locker rooms following the event. Photo by Dan Loh.
The celebration built on growing momentum of support for Red Devil athletics among the alumni and parent community and—based on the excitement among attendees—should continue build on that momentum into the future. As McAndrews Fund Director Raeann Buskey said, “The success of this project has obviously inspired others to join our cause, and we are coming off of a great Day of Giving for athletics, with over $260,000 raised to impact our student athletes. Philanthropy has the power to enhance the student-athlete experience here to a level that is world-class, and all of our students here deserve that. Your generosity will be felt by generations of athletes who proudly wear the red.”
The Hare family poses in front of the plaque acknowledging the donors who made the Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center possible. The plaque reads: Dickinson College gratefully recognizes the following alumni, parents and friends for their generous gifts in support of the Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center: Charlotte Armour '16, Anne & Gordon Armour P’16, Teenie (Mary) & Jim Bracken P'23, Lauren Bracken ’23, Lelia & Esteban '72 Ferrer, Jessica & David Gannaway P’22, Tom Gannaway'2 . George Hager'78, Ann & John Hanson, Judianne & Tom '78 Hare P’22, P’25, Cole Hare ‘22 , Kathleen & Mike '85 Hirthler, Karen Li & Mark Koide P’20, Tommy Koide ’20, Pam & Todd Marshman P'23, Thomas Marshman '23, Alison & Kyle McSlarrow P’23, Andrew McSlarrow 23 . Emma Murtaugh '11, Doug '80 & Terri Pauls, The Pugs Foundation, Anne Selden '65, P'97 & Larry Snyder '65, Barry '70 & Libby Taylor, Sarah Klagsbrun & Eric Weinstein P’23, Benji Weinstein '23, Cindy & Sean Woodroffe P23, Nigel Woodroffe '23. The Dickinson Park Athletics Training Center renovations were made possible thanks to the generosity of Dickinson alumni, parents and friends. Now, the Red Devils men's soccer, women's soccer, baseball and softball teams have a year-round space to house their equipment and dedicated locker rooms for training and team-building Thank you to the Dickinson community for its ongoing support of our student-athletes. Celebrated on April 22, 2023. Photo by Dan Loh.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published April 23, 2023