BENTONVILLE -- The chairman of NorthWest Arkansas Community College's board appointed a committee Saturday to explore launching a college sports program.
Ric Clifford agreed to establish the committee after board members discussed athletics during their meeting Saturday. The committee will include board members Todd Schwartz, Joe Spivey and Scott Grigsby.
At A Glance
Culinary Business
The NorthWest Arkansas Community College board voted to allow college administrators to move the culinary arts and hospitality management program. The college will negotiate moving the program to a former Tyson Foods plant at 801 S.E. Eighth St. in Bentonville. The program is now at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers and is out of space, said Evelyn Jorgenson, college president. The move isn’t expected to happen for at least another year, Jorgenson said.
Source: Staff Report
Schwartz, who initiated the discussion, said he's convinced there's enough interest in a college-sanctioned sports program that it could be paid for completely through donations. It also would benefit students looking for a place to extend their athletic careers after high school, he said.
"I am not an athlete, but I do recognize the leadership, teamwork and community pride fostered through sports programs," Schwartz said.
The college has an excellent area to recruit student-athletes from, Schwartz said. He suggested starting with baseball and softball programs that would compete on an intercollegiate level. He also suggested giving the programs at least three years to give them "a fair shake."
The college has seven club sports teams -- baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf and bowling -- that compete in various recreational leagues throughout the region. About 77 students participate in those teams, said Evelyn Jorgenson, college president.
More than 40 people from the community appeared at Saturday's meeting specifically for the athletics portion of Saturday's meeting.
Norm DeBriyn, who coached baseball at the University of Arkansas baseball for 33 years, recommended the board consider sports because the community wants it. Athletics also would enhance the college's brand, he said.
"There's so much value," DeBriyn said.
Laurie Adkins, head softball coach at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, also attended the meeting. Athletic programs will pay for themselves because some students will be drawn to the college primarily for the chance to play sports, she said.
"These kids do need a place to go and they're paying to play," Adkins said.
Jorgenson offered the board some facts she said were worth considering. The average age of NorthWest Arkansas Community College students is 26, which is close to the national average for community colleges, she said. She added Arkansas doesn't permit community colleges to build dormitories, something that could hamper recruiting student-athletes.
Spivey expressed support for exploring the idea of a sports program. Northwest Arkansas is rich in athletic talent, he said.
"I believe right now there are eight kids on the Bentonville High School football team who have Division I offers," he said. "The quality of athletes we have in Northwest Arkansas is amazing."
The board is charged with responding to the community's needs and desires, Spivey said.
Grigsby said he was concerned about the timing of the proposal. The college is already knee-deep in other initiatives such as building a facility in Washington County and buying a section of railroad that runs across the college's main campus.
Clifford said his primary concern was whether the sports programs would become financially sustainable.
After Saturday's meeting, Spivey said there's no timetable for the sports committee's first meeting or for when it will complete its work.
NW News on 07/27/2014