Central College is preparing for the final phase of renovations at the Kuyper Gymnasium as part of the Forever Dutch initiative. Athletics Director Eric Van Kley tells KNIA/KRLS News the next step is needed upgrades throughout the facility after an expansion was completed this spring.
“The new spaces are game-changers,” said athletics director Eric Van Kley. “Our coaches are telling us it’s given us a huge boost in recruiting. Prospective students are tremendously impressed with the new space and we’re starting to see recruits looking at Central who might not have considered us before. That gives them a chance to learn about all the advantages a Central education and being a part of the Central family can provide, with our individualized on-campus and off-campus learning opportunities, the connections they can make for internships, graduate schools and jobs, and the support they will receive here.”
Vice President of Advancement Sunny Eighmy says they are seeking donations to cover the remainder of the project.
“Central is eager to continue celebrating major gifts and recognizing donors who have stepped up to support the Forever Dutch initiative and Central students,” Eighmy said. “The response has been exciting. The $12 million expansion required some incredibly generous gifts, including the largest in school history. But our donors recognize how critically important it is for us to now finish the job. It’s heartwarming to see so many step up in a big way to fulfill that responsibility to Central’s students.”