A pad has already been laid, and the materials have arrived for the new indoor golf facility that will be located at the former fairgrounds. According to President Bill Luckey, the 4,200 square foot building should be completed by October.
“Earl and Marlene Smith made a $500,000 donation for that facility in honor of their deceased daughter, Jessica who played golf here at Lindsey Wilson and was an All American,” said Luckey. “It was a beautiful gift to memorialize her.”
A second athletic facility will also be built on the same property pending board approval. Henry Baughman left an estate gift to the university to build an indoor tennis facility. Luckey hopes to get that project started soon.
Luckey said that they have already received a great response to the Agribusiness Bachelor of Arts program that is launching this fall. The degree supports students who want to continue their education while staying close to home to continue work on the family farm. Agribusiness provides that opportunity to students in Adair and surrounding rural areas.
“We’ve already got students who had planned on going to the University of Kentucky that have announced their intention to come this direction instead,” he said.
There will also be a five-year Master’s in Business Administration program and a new major in Sports Performance beginning in the fall.
“We became the second college or university in the country to offer the Sport Performance major,” said Luckey.
This major is unique in sports being an academic major. Luckey compared it to dance, music or art. Students must be athletes to major in Sport Performance and can earn up to 12 credit hours for their sport.
Luckey described it as “cutting edge” and will open new pathways for student athletes.
“That’s an exciting program that we are going to be launching, and I think you will see other institutions will follow behind,” he said. “It’s gotten attention from the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is kind of our Bible for higher education.”
by Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
