The $10.2 million facility will be named after the Sukeforth Family Sports Center, named after the family that for years hosted the Festival of Trees fundraiser in Waterville.
Thomas College’s new $10.2 million athletic center Wednesday in Waterville. The college has announced that it will be called the Sukeforth Family Sports Center. The family, known for their long-standing support of charitable causes in the area, donated towards the construction of the center. Michael G. Seamans / Morning Watchman
WATERVILLE — As Thomas College nears completion of a new $10.2 million athletic center, the school announced Wednesday that the 18,000-square-foot facility will be named in honor of a family who , for years, has been working to support charitable efforts in the area.
The facility will be named Sukeforth Family Sports Center, according to a press release issued by the college. It will house strength and conditioning training space, coaches offices, locker rooms, esports facilities and the Athletics Hall of Fame. Esports is short for electronic sports and is a form of competition using video games.
Thomas College’s new $10.2 million athletic center Wednesday in Waterville. The college has announced that it will be called the Sukeforth Family Sports Center. The family, known for their long-standing support of charitable causes in the area, donated towards the construction of the center. Michael G. Seamans / Morning Watchman
Doug and Rita Sukeforth donated to the center through their family foundation, but the amount of the donation is confidential. Several members of the Sukeforth family are graduates of Thomas College, and the family has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over many years for charitable causes, particularly those focused on children, the elderly, and families in need. For many years the family hosted the Festival of Trees fundraiser in Waterville and prior to that held an annual hog roast and auction.
“The family believes deeply in Thomas’ mission and how the institution carries it out, understanding that an investment in young people is an investment in our collective future,” said Chris Parsons, vice president of the Intercollegiate Athletics at Thomas, in the release. “When the family had the opportunity to make a transformational investment that would serve the students and the community, they were eager to contribute. »
An NCAA Division III school, Thomas has 18 varsity teams and approximately 400 student-athletes—about 40% of the student body—on its campus at 180 West River Road in Waterville. College teams include esports, where students compete in online games, including “Rocket League” or “League of Legends.”
The building is not intended to replace the Alfond Athletic Center, which was designed for use by the entire student body, not just athletes. As the college has grown, it has outgrown the facility and the new complex is intended to be used in addition to the Alfond Sports Center.
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