OSU stadium project exceeds fundraising goal
The story: The west side of Reser Stadium came crashing down Jan. 7 on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis (“Reser Stadium project takes step forward with west side demolition,” published Jan. 7). The planned demolition, part of the “Completing Reser” project, could be heard in Philomath and beyond.
The $153 million project includes construction of the new west side of the stadium, a welcome center for prospective new students and their families, and a wellness clinic for students, OSU employees and community members.
The project is expected to be completed before the start of the 2023 football season. It is being funded by more than $90 million in philanthropy — including $50 million from an anonymous donor — raised by the OSU Foundation and by revenues from football stadium activities. Various revenue sources will fund the wellness center, and new revenues from enrollment growth will fund the student welcome center.
The latest: In less than one year, Oregon State University donors have given $91.6 million to transform Reser Stadium, exceeding an $85 million fundraising goal, Scott Barnes, vice president and director of OSU Athletics, announced recently at the university’s annual football national signing day event.
The fundraising effort to complete Reser Stadium was led by the OSU Foundation, with success driven by 20 donors who each made gifts of $1 million or more, including a previously announced anonymous gift of $50 million, which equals the largest donation ever made to OSU.
“Donor support for completing Reser Stadium has been outstanding and includes seven donors who made their first gift of $1 million or more to the university to support this project,” Barnes said.
Construction is underway on the $160.5 million project that by fall of 2023 will turn the stadium into a national best-in-class football facility, Barnes said. The project includes year-round programs and spaces serving OSU students, faculty and staff, fans and community members, including a state-of-the-art welcome center for new students and their families, and a 35,000-square-foot wellness center.
“We are indebted to our anonymous lead donor who launched the stadium project with a gift of $50 million and inspired further giving,” said Shawn L. Scoville, president and chief executive officer of the OSU Foundation. “Donors to this project exemplify OSU’s incredible fundraising momentum in the last five years. They are also true university community leaders. The same 20 donors who gave $91.6 million to complete Reser Stadium have given $119 million to OSU’s academic programs during their lifetimes.”
Construction will continue through the 2022 football season – with OSU continuing to play at Reser Stadium – and is on track to be completed by the start of the 2023 football season.
Shorthanded PHS cheer performs at competition
The story: At state last weekend, Philomath High’s cheerleaders had to go up against the largest coed squads in the state (“PHS cheerleading continues to flourish,” published Feb. 19). The Oregon School Activities Association has a Class 4A division for state, but Philomath falls into the all-class coed division.
Philomath placed 15th out of the 17 teams competing. The teams are judged for building skills, tumbling/jumps and overall routine.
The OSAA championships didn’t end the season for the Warriors with a competition also this weekend at the Oregon Cheer Coaches Association championships in Salem.
The latest: The cheerleading team ended up with a shorthanded varsity lineup in the OCCA championships on Feb. 19 at Salem Pavilion.
“We ended up having a person out due to an injury sustained on Friday (Feb. 18),” PHS cheer coach Kathy Kohler said. “There was no time to make changes.”
As a result, the performance that Philomath offered was incomplete.
“We did perform but we did not put our pyramid up and our main tumbler was out,” Kohler said. “We performed just for fun and not for a score. I feel they performed well and had a great time.”