Growing success for local university announced today
MARQUETTE — An exciting few days are ahead for NMU students as it’s homecoming weekend. But before all of the festivities get started official business was taken care of first.
Presenting at today’s NMU Board of Directors meeting was Athletic Director Forrest Karr. Karr gave an update on the growing athletic program. The expansion stems in part from the addition of women’s golf and men’s swimming being added to the program this year as well as men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse being added next year.
“Well we have a few teams that are carrying bigger rosters, our men’s football is carrying a bigger roster, our women’s track and field has really grown a lot over the past year. Our total number of student athletes within the department of athletics has grown. It has went from 364 last year to 429 this year, to 504 next year,” said Forrest Karr, NMU Athletic Director.
President, Fritz Erickson also had good news to share. The board will be breaking ground on the new Beaumier Alumni Welcome and U.P. Heritage Center on Saturday.
“This is the place to come to be welcomed to our campus and to be welcomed into our community. We will have a lot of heritage, documents, artifacts, the museum will be a part of it and our alumni office is moving in there,” said NMU President, Dr. Fritz Erickson.
A one million dollar donation from Dr. John Beaumier, was given to build the U.P. Welcome and Heritage Center.