MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Bethel University is realizing another milestone in its history as work comes to completion on the school's first ever lights for the Wildcat baseball and softball fields.
"These particular updates have been on the university's radar for a while now," said Amy Thompson, Director of Development at Bethel. "We had been exploring every possible avenue for funding this project – possibly grants – but available grant funds can be very specific, and we had not found a grant source that our lighting project matched well."
Thompson pointed out too that lighting for the project was quite cost prohibitive.
"We were talking hundreds of thousands of dollars," she said. "So when Thomas and Patty Kahlden showed interest in helping on this project, we could not have been more thrilled. Patty cared deeply about this particular project knowing the importance of providing lights would give our student athletes the opportunity to miss less class while still getting to earn their scholarships on the field."
The Kahlden's are from Caldwell, Texas and they own and operate Refinery Specialties, Inc., an oil and gas solution company in Bryan. Their son, Kolby, is a current student at Bethel majoring in physical education, and he is a dual student athlete in football and shooting.
"The lighting project has consisted of 64 lights for the baseball field and 26 for the softball field," Thompson said. "Musco Lighting undertook the installation. It meets all NCAA regulations, and there is a 25 year warranty."
According to Thompson, after a recent final inspection, the project is now 100 percent complete.
"We are thrilled that the Kahlden's have chosen to support Bethel and that this lighting project will be a lasting legacy of that support," said Bethel University President, Dr. Walter Butler. "I know a lot of the student athletes who play baseball and softball here. They are committed to their sport, and I feel confident that the new lighting will give them a chance to spend as much time as they can on their field – honing their skills."
"I think it's really great that we have gotten these lights," said senior softball player Emmi Thurmond of Franklin, Ky. "We are no longer restricted to having practices and games during the day."
"We just want to thank Ms. Pat and her family for such a generous donation," said senior baseball player Steven White of Savannah, Tenn. "It means a lot to get to play under the new lights, and as it warms up, we are now able to have later games which will also mean fewer times that we might have to miss an afternoon class to play a game."
A ribbon cutting for the new lights will happen later in the semester around spring football according to President Butler.
"It will be a time when we can formally thank Thomas and Patty and their family for this meaningful contribution," he said.
According to Thompson, the space housing Bethel's baseball and softball fields will be named Kahlden Complex.
"Signage at the end of the space – by the road – will have a Kahlden Complex sign," she said. "This is definitely a wonderful addition to our campus."
