Though inclement weather forced the festivities indoors, no amount of rain could dampen the excitement of hundreds of Missouri State University students, alumni, and donors that turned out on April 23, 2013 to celebrate the dedication of the Betty and Bobby Allison Recreation Fields and the Betty and Bobby Allison Courts.
With lines to get in wrapping around the building, guests were treated to an indoor barbeque, a presentation of major upgrades to intramurals at Missouri State thanks to Mr. Bobby Allison, and a series of speakers discussing the effect his gift will have on campus. Held inside the Foster Recreation Center on the courts bearing his name and the name of his late mother, Bobby Allison received a standing ovation as the campus community thanked him for his generosity, which will impact generations of Bears to come.
Announced in Summer 2012, local businessman and philanthropist, Bobby Allison, made a major gift to Missouri State University to assist with construction costs of the indoor courts in the Foster Recreation Center, to provide funding for upgrades to intramural facilities, and to partially endow the Campus Recreation Intramural Program. That program endowment will help supplement the Intramural Program budget annually, allowing Campus Recreation to offer more intramural opportunities to more students.
Major upgrades to the newly named Betty and Bobby Allison Recreation Fields can be seen on the MSU Foundation Flickr site and include new signage, major upgrades to the storage and administrative building on the fields, new video scoreboards, and new seating including the unique “Bear Bench.” The gift won’t just alter the appearance and offerings of campus and the Recreation Center; with nearly 7,400 students involved in Intramurals at Missouri State, it will also have an impact on a huge number of students, their campus experience, and their personal growth.
Cindi Barnett, Director of Campus Recreation, noted, “The Allison gift will provide lasting spaces that encourage lifelong wellness for both today’s and tomorrow’s Missouri State students.”
For Michael Wilbanks, a Criminology Major named the 2012 Intramural Man of the Year at Missouri State, intramural programs and campus recreation mean even more than a healthy lifestyle. “Intramurals give us a chance to interact with our campus community and develop new friendships in a healthy, positive environment. We also learn teamwork and leadership skills. We owe a lot to Mr. Allison for enriching this campus and allowing more students to grow at Missouri State now and into the future.”
To learn more about the Intramural Program and Campus Recreation at Missouri State, we encourage you to visit the Campus Recreation website.
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