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.
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.
