Washington Adventist University Opens New $1.8 Million Ball Field

TAKOMA PARK, MD (September 9, 2014) Washington Adventist University (WAU) officially opened its new $1.8 million artificial turf ball field this afternoon in suburban Takoma Park. The event was celebrated with the university’s first men’s soccer team home game of the season, and a dinner. The ball field includes new lights, a new score board, and new bleachers.

“The opening of this beautiful ball field marks another step forward in WAU’s transformation from being a good university to a great one,” said Washington Adventist University President Weymouth Spence, Ed.D, R.T. “The goal of our Vision 2020 Growing with Excellence Plan is to turn this institution into one of the premier small universities in the mid-Atlantic region, and improvements like this one to the physical campus are as important as building excellence in our educational programs.”  

The grand opening ceremony began with a welcome from WAU Athletic Director Patrick Crarey, and remarks by WAU President Weymouth Spence, Board of Trustees Member Lois Peters, Takoma Park City Mayor Bruce Williams, Takoma Park City Councilmember Jarrett Smith, and Student Association President Avery Huggins.

A prayer of dedication was given by Student Association Religious Vice President Carl Bienvenu.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, along with an inaugural goal scored by President Spence; alumna Dannielle Panuccio (’13), women’s soccer all-time leading scorer; and alumnus Gary Saint-Fleur (’11), men’s soccer three-time MVP.

The field – which will accommodate soccer games, intramural sports, and a variety of community activities throughout the year — is part of an ongoing effort by WAU to improve its physical campus. During the past five years, the university has made investments of more than $16 million, reaping visible and effective results. The list of completed projects includes a new $6.3 million music building; a $1.2 million dining hall renovation; a $1.1 million activity center; and a host of smaller renovation projects that include new paint, furniture and flooring in the dormitories, classrooms and library.

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Washington Adventist University is Montgomery County’s only four-year private college. Part of the Seventh-day Adventist system of higher education, Washington Adventist University has been educating college students since 1904 on a 19-acre campus in suburban Takoma Park, close to the nation’s capital. A total of 1,185 students of all faiths participate in the university’s eight graduate and 32 undergraduate programs. The 2014 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington Adventist University among the best regional colleges in the north.

Media Contacts:
Angie Crews, 301-891-4134, acrews@wau.edu
Donna Bigler, 240-286-1169, dbigler@wau.edu