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Athletics facility to provide home for Bees By Kim Thebo The Savannah College of Art and Design is the only art and design college in the United States to offer a complete athletics and intramurals program. The athletics department includes 21 intercollegiate teams that accommodate 317 students. The college also offers a thriving intramural program in which about 500 students participate, plus two fitness centers. The national reputation of the SCAD athletics department continues to grow. Consider the following achievements: Two members of the women’s swim team were national champions in 2005. Seven student-athletes were named to the Daktronics All-American Scholar Athlete Team. The volleyball team won the 2004 conference and regional championships. The team also played in the national tournament, had the Conference Player of the Year and finished 22-7 overall. The equestrian team had three riders win (individual) zone titles to advance to national competition in 2005. The women’s fast-pitch softball team won their conference and has appeared in post-season tournaments for the last three years. The women’s cross country team finished second in the region, had the Conference Runner of the Year, and placed two runners in the national championship in Fall 2004. The women’s golf team finished the 2004 season ranked 13th nationally. The men’s basketball team, coached by NBA legend Cazzie Russell, has won 68 percent of its games in the last eight seasons. The baseball team has averaged 20 wins over the last three years, and several players have signed professional playing contracts. Even more important than athletic accomplishments is the fact that student-athletes have been among the top academic performers at SCAD and in the NAIA. However, for the athletics programs to continue their development, a new facility is imperative. SCAD pays rental fees to facilities including the Savannah Civic Center, the Chatham County Aquatic Center and Soccer Complex, Grayson Stadium, Paulson Softball Complex, Savannah High School, Bacon Park Tennis Courts, St. Paul’s Activity Center and Forsyth Park. The college has unveiled plans to develop a comprehensive new facility, which will include a multipurpose indoor center; soccer, softball, lacrosse and intramural fields; and an equestrian center. The whole SCAD community will benefit from this facility, which will provide not only much-needed space but also the “home” that SCAD athletics programs have lacked. The new facility also will allow students, faculty and staff an enhanced opportunity to integrate health, exercise and wellness into their daily lives. To build this center, the college is embarking on a fund-raising campaign. Fans of the athletics department can support outstanding student-athletes, their coaches and the SCAD community by contributing to the building fund for the new facility. For more information, call (912) 525-4784 or e-mail kthebo@scad.edu. Thebo is assistant athletics director, marketing and development, at SCAD. |
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