The Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex (KPAC) will be dedicated tomorrow and Admissions anticipates a boost in enrollment to follow the opening in upcoming years.
Ryan Spear, associate director of admissions, said, “We are seeing KPAC as an opportunity to grow enrollment during the coming years by highlighting the facility on tours and working closely with coaches.” In addition, the Admissions office recently hosted a college fair in KPAC, which was represented by 41 local colleges and universities. High schools from Alleghany County and the surrounding areas were invited to attend as well. “We’re seeing KPAC as a chance to hold events like these that will increase awareness of Houghton and what it has to offer,” said Spear. Senior tennis player Jenn Mechler said, “KPAC will be a selling point for Houghton. Having the indoor tennis courts will be beneficial to the team because we won’t need to travel to practice at St. Bonaventure when it rains.”
After switching into the NCAA Division III, Spear explained that Houghton wanted to qualify to take part in the Empire 8, an athletics association made up of colleges and universities in Western New York. “We needed better athletic facilities to compete with NCAA Division III schools and to grow the amount of teams we offered,” said Spear. As a result, a $12 million dollar donation was made by Terry Pegula and alumnus Kim Pegula (Kerr) three years ago for the construction of the athletic complex. “KPAC shows competitors that Houghton is serious about athletics and that Alumni are investing money into making it happen,” said Mechler.
The donation was not enough to build KPAC entirely. Another $14 million dollars was needed from Houghton in order to complete the facility and has brought some controversy because the college had to go into debt. Mechler said, “It’s a big expense now, but it will be returned when it brings more students to Houghton and when we hold events like the upcoming Tenth Avenue North concert.”
Spear said, “We are tending to the educational, spiritual, and now growing in how Houghton treats the physical health of it’s students, faculty, and staff, which is what a Liberal Arts education is all about.”
Over the last three years, Houghton has added baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s lacrosse. Coach Lord, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, said, “When we were a part of the NAIA division, we had about 17 percent of our student body participating in intercollegiate sports. Now we have about 27 percent since switching to NCAA Division III and we hope that number will grow to 33 percent in the coming years.”
While there have been no confirmations on whether or not the Pegula family will be joining the dedication, Coach Lord stated, “We want to show them how blessed we are and how they have contributed so much to the Houghton community.”
“It’s not everyday that you get to dedicate a building, so I hope to see a lot of students at the dedication ceremony” said Coach Lord. During Houghton’s Homecoming and Family weekend, the dedication of KPAC will draw alumni, community members, and students to tour the new building. Spear said, “Most importantly KPAC is for everybody, not just athletes.”
