Milestone…
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing today with some very good news. Earlier today the Foundation Executive Committee met at First National Bank (FNB) of Shawnee and completed the closing on the purchase of the 50 acre tract of land just to the west of the new Seminole High School for the construction of the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex. FNB of Shawnee, Security State Bank and the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority deserve our deepest gratitude for sticking with us for more than a year while we sought to purchase a location for this project. When fully completed, the BCM Complex will include a new Trojan Baseball Stadium and Indoor Training Facility, three additional baseball fields and at least one soccer field. This location will allow us to share facilities and resources with the Seminole Public School System. It is an incredibly exciting time!
In many ways, now the real work or fun begins. As many of you will recall, there are three unplugged wells on the property. Foundation Trustee Lance Ruffel obtained a “soft” estimate of $45,000 to plug all three of those wells should that be necessary or feasible. Design experts have indicated that is entirely possible develop the project around the existing wells, which actually could be quite interesting. We will now commence the process of cleaning up the property. We cannot do a lot more work than that until we have the larger construction loan completed due to complications which could occur related to the future issuance of title insurance. Anyone who would like to volunteer any assistance with the cleanup process in the form of donated use of heavy construction equipment please contact me. Shortly after the first of the year, we will schedule a special meeting to consider final design and funding plans for the project.
Thank you for your patience and support during this process. There are many others that we should thank for making this historic day possible. First and foremost among these are the Trustees of the Brian Crawford Memorial Foundation. Their initial commitment of a lead gift of $500,000 provided a strong base for the development of this project. In addition, we would also like to extend our appreciation to several others who have made preliminary lead donations and pledges. Those include: the City of Seminole; the Seminole Tourism Council; the Kinslow Group and Seminole Sonic; Pam and the late Roger Parks and family; the late Linda Helbach and family; Regent Curtis and Pam Morgan; Regent Marci and Dale Donaho; President Lana Reynolds; former Trojan David Machino and family; and, Chairman Rocky Barrett and the Citizen Pottawatomie Nation. In addition to all of these, there are numerous Regents, Boosters, banks, businesses owners and individuals, including all of our Foundation Trustees, who regularly make generous donations to support the SSC Educational Foundation. We think of all of them with deep appreciation and pride on special days like today.
Today, we are truly Shaping the Future of Seminole State College. I hope you will join me next week in giving thanks for so many Blessings.
With gratitude,
Jim
