First Posted: 1/15/2009
PEMBROKE- With 488 days until the first football game, officials at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke's are selling pieces of the campus to the highest bidders.
So far it has been an easy sell, Chancellor Allen Meadors told the board of trustees Friday. Meadors said donors have spent $890,000 for naming rights.
UNCP plans to raise $4 million for its First and Ten Campaign for Football and Athletic Excellence.
Beginning with $500,000 from Lumbee Guaranty for naming rights to the football field, UNCP has sold perpetual naming rights to the press box, chancellor's box seats, Braves Club hospitality room, concession stand, two coaches' offices, the baseball and softball fields.
Some well-known businesses and alumni have stepped up, including First Bank, Native Angels Home Care and Hospice, Lumberton Radiological Associates and alumni Mac and Sylvia Campbell and Sammy Cox Jr.
Some new friends have pitched in too, said Sandy Waterkotte, vice chancellor for Advancement.
“Forty-two percent of the donors to football are new donors to the university,” she said. “That's a good reason to have a major campaign.”
UNCP's faculty and staff started a drive in April with an eye on raising $50,000 for naming rights to football coach Pete Shinnick's office. University employees are nearing $30,000 two weeks into the campaign, said James Bass, alumni director and coordinator of the drive.
Coach Shinnick, who joined the university in January, is even chipping in, Meadors said.
“If you hear Coach Shinnick talk, you will not be disappointed,” he said. “He has already talked to 30 civic and other groups. You will hear him talk about academics, integrity and all the good things that football will bring.”
Shinnick has been recruiting too, with 14 players signed to play in 2007, and a larger number of walk-ons committed to attend UNCP.
The university is working to find beds for a growing enrollment and its new football team.
“There could be as many as 1,000 new beds available for students by the fall of 2007,” Meadors said. “A lot of things will come together in the fall of 2007. This is an exciting time.”
Architect's drawings of a new $14 million residence hall also were unveiled Friday by Neil Hawk, vice chancellor for Business Affairs. Construction bids will be opened Thursday on the residence hall, which will have 360 beds.
In other action, the trustees signed off on diplomas for approximately 408 students for commencement on May 6.
