Hood Names Athletic Complex After Major Donors
FREDERICK, Md.--Hood College honored two of its most treasured
and loyal supporters Oct. 23 when President Ron Volpe announced
that the College had named its new athletic complex after Charlie
Nicodemus H'05 and his wife, Kathryn Nicodemus H'05.
The Nicodemus Athletic Complex encompasses Hood's state-of-the-art
turf field, the new home for the Blazer field hockey, soccer and
lacrosse teams, a new locker room facility, new bleachers with
seating for nearly 1,000 Blazer fans, two new scoreboards and a new
portable press box.
"In recognition of more than a quarter century of their
contributions to Hood College, their ongoing financial support of
Hood College student-athletes, their commitment to all aspects of
Hood College, and especially athletics, their exceptional passion,
loyalty and love of the students, faculty and staff of Hood
College, the Nicodemus name will forever be linked to this stunning
athletic complex," said Volpe.
Volpe also sincerely thanked and acknowledged the hard work of
numerous contributors to this project, including Jeff Dreyfus and
Neil Higgins of Bushman Dreyfus Architects; Dan Hannon, Chris
Enders, Amit Patani and Harold Virgin of KBE Building Corporation;
Joe Adkins and Gabrielle Dunn of the City of Frederick Planning
Department; Brickman Landscaping; Childs Landscaping; FieldTurf
Tarkett; and several Hood administrators and staff members.
The artificial playing surface, which was meticulously installed
over a span of several weeks during the summer, measures 120 x 75
yards and provides a safe, speedy surface for five Blazer
intercollegiate athletic teams.
The pair of side-by-side modular locker facilities each house five
restrooms and sinks, 30 lockers and four shower stalls for use by
the hosts as well as the guests. Additionally, teams have the
ability to store equipment and other supplies in a storage area
within the athletic complex.
This edifice and surrounding area reflects Hood’s equestrian
past. The design is intentionally influenced by the horse stables
that once stood close to the new field and are synonymous with the
College’s history.
Hood has also upgraded its scoreboard for the main field with a
striking blue Daktronics structure emblazoned with the Hood Blazers
athletic logo. Softball fans will also be treated to a new
scoreboard for the first time, complete with pitch count and home
and away scoring.
The portable aluminum press box provides Hood's game operations
staff with a comfortable and weather-proof facility in which to
perform their duties. The press box sits atop a spacious storage
area and can be wheeled to multiple game sites.
Several Hood student-athletes were on hand to assist President
Volpe with his big reveal on this historic day for the Hood College
community. Volpe's vision for the grand complex stretched beyond
the brilliant green surface however, as his intention on this day
was also to create awareness for a steadfast campaign for a new
multipurpose recreation center.
With the aid of two first-year basketball players, Volpe unveiled
three artist's renderings depicting the next piece of the athletic
complex puzzle. As a result of the generosity of a number of
individuals and groups, Volpe announced that Hood has acquired
nearly half of the necessary funds to construct the facility the
campus needs so desperately.
Hood is in the midst of an aggressive fund-raising campaign which
will continue until the ultimate goal is reached and the
groundbreaking for this new recreation center becomes a
reality.
The upstanding character and integrity of the Hood College
student-athlete is evident across the board, and it's only fitting
that these hard-working individuals have a home of similar stature
to showcase as their own.
