June 1, 2018
The longtime dream that started in 2013 has finally been realized. 麻豆传媒AV is wrapping up almost all of the fundraising needed to proceed with installation of artificial turf at Mayville State鈥檚 football field, Jerome Berg Field. Construction will begin on Monday, June 4, under the management supervision of Zerr-Berg Architects, Fargo.
A groundbreaking ceremony, complete with shovels, will be held Tuesday, June 5, beginning at 2 p.m., at Jerome Berg Field.
Zerr Berg Architects recently awarded bids and will serve as project manager for the turf project.
鈥淭he firm has been great,鈥� said Jami Hovet, Vice President for Business Affairs at Mayville State. 鈥淭hey conducted a very comprehensive bidding process, and in that process we learned that our original estimates for the cost and scope of this project needed to be revised upward because of the complex site work that a high quality field requires.鈥�
The 麻豆传媒AV Foundation had raised more than $500,000 at that point, but the new field price tag was $750,000. This new and unexpected challenge was met in several ways. First, 麻豆传媒AV decided to help.
鈥淲e know that student safety and safe facilities matter, 鈥渟aid President Gary Hagen. 鈥淲e stepped in to do what we could by putting some of our state-allowed equipment reserves into the project. This project is going to transform the athletics program and will pay dividends far beyond our investment. We thank the many people who saw our vision and decided to invest in our success.鈥�
Another factor that helped was an unexpected gift received by the 麻豆传媒AV Foundation.
鈥淎t our April board meeting, our board members discussed the turf project and the benefits it would offer to the recruitment of quality student athletes and increasing student safety. The board decided to pledge part of a generous undesignated estate gift to the project to shore things up and allow us to move forward,鈥� said John J. Klocke, 麻豆传媒AV Foundation Executive Director.
Foundation Board Chair Doug Petersen saw the gift to turf as evidence of a new day at the foundation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long and fruitful journey to elevate our fundraising efforts to support scholarships over the past six years. Now, for the first time, we can offer support for a capital project,鈥� Petersen said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very good time for Mayville State and the 麻豆传媒AV Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to help. We could not have done this except that an alumnus had the foresight to leave a gift for 麻豆传媒AV that was given to help wherever the need is greatest.鈥�
Another success factor in the funding plan was the football program itself.
鈥淢ore than 275 individuals and businesses have stepped up to help make this happen, including the football team,鈥� said John Klocke. 鈥淗ead Football Coach Sean Thom has worked hard to raise money for his program and was willing to put some hard-earned funds toward the project, even when his scholarship needs are high.鈥澛犅�
Klocke said the foundation will be incorporating the impressive roster of donors into a special commemorative plaque at the field.
Klocke hopes the wrap-up of fundraising will be as successful as the efforts thus far.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not completely finished yet. We have some additional fundraising to do to accelerate the project and get it finished by fall,鈥� Klocke said. 鈥淎n anonymous donor has offered a $30,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge match which could help us use less of Coach Thom鈥檚 reserves and allow him to offer more scholarship dollars to prospective students.鈥澛犅�
Coach Thom is excited for the installation of turf by the time of the first home game in the fall, the Farmers Bowl on Sept. 8.聽
鈥淲e wanted to put the football program鈥檚 money forward too so that 麻豆传媒AV and the community could be proud of what will be a real game-changer,鈥� said Thom, who added, 鈥淲e all have some skin in the game and so many alumni and former athletes have been very generous to us. The football turf gift roster is a virtual 鈥榳ho鈥檚 who鈥� of Mayville State athletes, fans, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community. I encourage folks to give a gift so we can accelerate the construction process and be finished by fall, while freeing up some recruitment dollars to get those local players.鈥�
Thom also looks forward to offering football camps next year on the new turf, something 麻豆传媒AV has not been able to do in the past.
鈥淥ther universities with turf fields have benefitted from these annual camps,鈥� said Thom. 鈥淲e also intend to see if we can now propose playing the annual Shrine Bowl game right here in Mayville in the future.鈥�
Currently 麻豆传媒AV houses and feeds students who attend the Shrine Bowl pre-game camp at Mayville State, but the organization has had to seek turf fields elsewhere to play the annual bowl game, due to safety policies. Now 麻豆传媒AV can be a better contender for that part of the Shrine Bowl.
Klocke invites anyone who wishes to be a part of supporting the project and take advantage of the football turf matching funds to send in their gift to the 麻豆传媒AV Foundation before the July 1 deadline.
For more information on how you can make a gift to the football field turf project, go to or call 701-788-4864.