A groundbreaking ceremony at Saint Vincent College today marked the start of construction for an upgraded synthetic turf field that will be known as UPMC Field in recognition of the UPMC's leadership in sponsoring this project.
"Saint Vincent College is currently engaged in a project to expand and enhance its outdoor athletic facilities used for varsity sports competition, summer residential camps for youth and the Pittsburgh Steelers summer training camp," Fr. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president of Saint Vincent College, commented. "Saint Vincent will replace its existing turf field and create a premier recreational facility outfitted with a new scoreboard, shot clock, score table, players' benches and seating for spectators. Completion of this project will elevate the quality of athletic facilities on campus and advance recreational and competitive sports at all levels."
"We are grateful to UPMC for its continuing support of Saint Vincent and for their major contribution to this project," Fr. Paul added. "We are also appreciative that other significant corporate and private donations have been received for this project. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain available for interested donors."
Fr. Myron M. Kirsch, athletic director of Saint Vincent, noted that for many years, UPMC orthopedic surgeons have provided expert medical care for Saint Vincent athletes on the school's 23 NCAA teams. Dr. Jeanne Doperak of UPMC serves as the team physician for the College.
Participants in the ceremony were Rt. Rev. Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., archabbot and chancellor of Saint Vincent; Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., president of Saint Vincent College; Dr. Jeanne Doperak, sports medicine physician, UPMC; Courtney Asher, senior account coordinator, Lagardére Sports; Art Rooney II, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Fr. Myron M. Kirsch, O.S.B., athletic director, Saint Vincent College; and Fr. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., executive vice president, Saint Vincent College. David Hollenbaugh, associate vice president for institutional advancement at Saint Vincent College, served as master of ceremonies.
UPMC Field will replace a turf field that was installed on campus in the spring of 2008 along Fraser Purchase Road.
In addition to walkways and lighting to enhance safety and accessibility, the area surrounding UPMC Field will be landscaped to provide an aesthetically pleasing vista that blends with Saint Vincent's picturesque campus in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
As part of its commitment to serve the regional community, the college also hosts and sponsors a number of sports camps, clinics and tournaments for high school and youth athletes, including the Nike lacrosse camp for girls ages 10-18 and the World Cup Soccer Camp for youth ages 8-17.
"Saint Vincent is honored to have a long-term partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers," commented Br. Norman. "For 52 years, Saint Vincent has hosted the Steelers summer training camp on its campus here in Unity Township (Latrobe)."
"Saint Vincent has some of the finest facilities in small-college athletics including Chuck Noll Field, the 1,100-seat stadium with a natural grass field that is home to the Bearcat football team in the fall and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the summer," he added. "Our turf field has become the most widely-used field on campus and is home to the college's varsity men's and women's soccer and lacrosse teams as well as intramural sports such as Ultimate Frisbee. The field is also used for camps, clinics and tournaments for youth players."
UPMC Field will be completed in May 2018.
