Elon trustee Vicky Hunt and her husband Sam have made gifts totaling $1 million to help fund the new softball stadium on campus.
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The Hunts made a $500,000 gift to the stadium in fall 2011. In recognition of that gift, Elon’s board of trustees voted to name the new stadium Hunt Softball Park. In March, the couple made a second $500,000 gift to the stadium.
“We are so grateful to Vicky and Sam for this generous gift that will benefit our softball program and the student-athletes,” said Dave Blank, director of athletics. “Hunt Softball Park will be one of the premier softball facilities in the Southern Conference and have a tremendous impact on our recruiting. Through the Hunt’s leadership, we hope to complete fundraising for the project soon and we look forward to opening the stadium in 2013.”
The softball stadium will be located off of Williamson Avenue opposite baseball’s Walter C. Latham Park and will be completed in three phases. The parking lot has already been completed and the remainder of the first phase will include a state-of-the-art field, dugouts, lighting, scoreboard, press box and grandstand seating. The remaining phases include additional seating, a clubhouse with locker rooms, an entry plaza and a permanent space for concessions.
“Sam and I thought this would be something really great to do for women’s athletics,” Vicky Hunt says. “We are big cheerleaders for the university and big believers in Elon, and this seemed like a good thing to do to get this important project started. Hopefully others will join in and help support this facility. We do feel that outstanding athletics venues add a great deal to the ambience of the campus and to the student experience. They bring students, alumni and members of the community to campus and provide a great atmosphere for everyone.”
Vicky and Sam Hunt have long been active supporters of Elon, supporting the Ever Elon Campaign with a gift to endow a need- or talent-based scholarship. The Hunts received the university’s Frank S. Holt Jr. Business Leadership Award in 2005 in recognition of their contributions to the civic and business communities. Vicky Hunt has served as chairman of the N.C. Film Commission and is a former board member of the Alamance Community College Foundation, American Red Cross and North Carolina Zoo.
Residents of Burlington, N.C., the Hunts are loyal supporters of Elon athletics and the Phoenix Club and are members of the IMPACT Circle, the premier giving group for Elon athletics.
The Elon Commitment strategic plan calls for establishing a national tournament tradition of athletics success. Building this new facility will enable Elon to be more competitive with its peer schools, enhancing the success of Phoenix athletics and the overall reputation of the university. Fundraising will continue for the softball complex with construction expected to begin in the spring of 2012 and the initial phase of the softball field to be completed in the spring of 2013.