The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation of Fayetteville, Ark., has made a $500,000 gift to University of the Ozarks for its new Wilson Athletic Complex.
The $10.75 million Wilson Athletic Complex is nearing completion on the northeast corner of campus. The complex houses the University’s new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums as well as locker rooms, press boxes and public restrooms.
The gift from the Walker foundation brings the total raised for the complex to $8.2 million.
In 2001, the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation made a $7 million dollar gift to the University for the construction of Walker Hall. Five years later, they made a $2.96 million gift to endow the maintenance and operations of the facility, which houses the University’s teacher education and communication programs. In 2007, the University dedicated the Pat Walker Teacher Education Program in honor of the Walker family’s steadfast and ongoing support of the teacher education program.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation and their unwavering commitment to our students and campus,” said Lori McBee, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement. “Their support over the years has helped shape the University in meaningful ways, and this latest gift to the Wilson Athletic Complex will have a lasting impact on our student-athletes and the entire Ozarks community. We sincerely appreciate their support in helping us fulfill our mission of serving students.”
Topics: Athletics