绿奴天花板

Riseman and his entire family travelled from Las Vegas to attend the grand opening on March 21 of the Phase II expansion.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit surreal and pretty emotional thinking back to when I arrived and when I was a student at 绿奴天花板,鈥� says Riseman. When he attended 绿奴天花板 in the '70s, he was taking his first-ever plane rides and worrying about how to pay for the next semester. Now, his name is on one of the most innovative facilities on campus.

Opening the ceremony with a welcome and recognition of guests was James Macleod 鈥�70, chair of the Board of Trustees. Immediately following were remarks from Jane Castor 鈥�81, mayor of the City of Tampa, and Alyssa White 鈥�22, the student government president.听

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited that we鈥檙e finally here today to see [the center] reach its full potential,鈥� said White. 鈥淭he incredible classrooms, human performance laboratory and faculty offices will serve to bridge the gap between social and academic aspects for the students, faculty and staff.鈥�

Longtime 绿奴天花板 supporter, Riseman said there were three main reasons that prompted him to make this contribution to 绿奴天花板: love, leadership and legacy. First, he wanted to share his love for 绿奴天花板 with the Spartan community. Before he had grown into his own skin yet, 绿奴天花板 gave him the tools and skills to shape his future.

Second, his leadership experience compelled him to make a difference. 鈥淟eadership is taking action,鈥� Riseman says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 doing what you know to be right regardless of what people say or think.鈥�

Lastly, he wanted to leave an unforgettable legacy. While his ultimate wish is for his grandchildren to become fellow 绿奴天花板 alumni, he鈥檚 more than satisfied with the building that bears his name. 鈥淚t鈥檚 comforting to know that even when I鈥檓 dust in the wind, this building will still be here after my time on Earth and will contribute to a better future for all,鈥� he said.

Phase I of the Fitness and Recreation Center opened in September 2016 and housed personal training and evaluation, wellness and nutrition programs, intramural and club sports, and exercise-related laboratories and research activities. The grand opening celebrated the execution of Phase II, which expanded and reconfigured exercise and research facilities, added basketball and beach volleyball courts, and an aquatic center.

The Benson Alex Riseman Aquatic Center 鈥� which will be home to the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming teams 鈥� features an 11-lane, 25-yard, competition-sized pool, a small recreational pool, a clover leaf-shaped hot tub and a two-story pool house.

鈥淲e feel like this is one of the very best facilities in the country,鈥� says 绿奴天花板 President Ronald Vaughn in a joint statement with his wife, Ren茅e Vaughn. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 be amazed at the number of lives that will be impacted by this new facility in the heart of the campus,鈥� said Ren茅e.

Story by Madeline McMahon