NPC Awarded $275K Oaklawn Foundation Grant

The Oaklawn Foundation announced a $275,000 grant to National Park College (NPC) Wednesday during the Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting. The grant was awarded for renovations to the NPC Gym Complex.

Larry Stanley, Oaklawn Foundation Board Vice Chair, making announcement on behalf of the board.The Gym Complex is home to NPC’s Wellness Center, fitness studios, and gym known on campus as “The Kettle.” The grant will fund a new wooden gym floor, bleachers, training room and scorer’s table. The rubber gym floor and bleachers were original to the facility built in 1978. The new wooden floor and bleachers will provide a safer environment for student activities and other events that take place in the gym, as well as improvements for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. The training room will provide space for athletic trainers to evaluate and treat the more than 100 student athletes that are expected to be on campus this fall. The new scorer’s table will provide space for the broadcast team, media, score and time keepers to work during games. It will also provide opportunity for community sponsors to support Nighthawk Athletics through advertisements.

Oaklawn Foundation Board Vice Chair, Larry Stanley made the announcement on behalf of the Board. He said, “The Oaklawn Foundation is excited to be part of this significant investment in the future of National Park College. We know the gym will be a great new home for the Nighthawks. The fact that the gym will be a multi-purpose facility used by many students for many activities was important to our board.”

“The Oaklawn Foundation’s mission is to support education and senior citizens and this project is a great fit for that mission,” said Oaklawn Foundation Board Chair, Ira Kleinman. “I believe that NPC is heading in an exciting direction. They are working to improve the experience for their students and that is good for our community.”

NPC Foundation Executive Director, Nicole Herndon said, “On behalf of the NPC Foundation, we’re grateful for the continued support of the Oaklawn Foundation. Our number one priority is our students and the Oaklawn Foundation sees that and is willing to invest in our endeavors. We’re excited about the future of the college and the impact NPC will leave on our community.”

“I echo Nicole’s gratitude for the Oaklawn Foundation and its investment in our students and the community,” said NPC President, Dr. John Hogan. “The renovation of ‘The Kettle’ provides a safer environment for Nighthawk Athletics, summer youth camps, our annual health and wellness fair, and other campus and community events. I am appreciative of our continued partnership and friendship with Oaklawn.”

Pictured is Larry Stanley announcing a $275,000 grant from the Oaklawn Foundation during NPC’s Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday.