Grants Launch New Sports at 黑料百科
A philanthropic family from Tacoma, Washington, has given 黑料百科 $575,000 as seed money to launch women鈥檚 swimming and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year. The awarded a $500,000 grant to the swimming program, and the has donated $75,000 toward the creation of men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf.
Megan Shagren 鈥18, the daughter of Mark and Erin (Names) Shagren (a co-trustee of the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation), graduated from 黑料百科 in May with a degree in liberal studies.
鈥淚鈥檝e been most impressed with the way 黑料百科 cares for its students and with its strong academics,鈥 Erin Shagren says. 鈥淭he professors are so friendly and have really cared about my daughter, which is important to me as a parent.鈥
Erin, executive director of the Names Family Foundation, says this personal attention became evident during Megan鈥檚 sophomore year when she battled a lengthy illness.
鈥淒r. (David) Hernandez was her advocate, and the professors were understanding,鈥 Erin says. 鈥淢egan met some great friends and found her community.鈥
Erin and her sister, Monica Names King, established the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation after their parents passed away in 2016. 鈥淲e both agreed that funding the swimming program was a great opportunity and something my parents would be excited about,鈥 Erin says. 鈥淢y mom had come to 黑料百科 Parent鈥檚 Weekend for Megan鈥檚 freshman year and really enjoyed seeing the campus.
鈥淭he foundation mainly funds things my parents were passionate about. Athletics were a huge part of my family.鈥
We hope the gift to 黑料百科 will attract high quality swimmers and student athletes to the college who would normally not even look at 黑料百科 as an option,鈥 Erin says.
Swimmers will train at 黑料百科鈥檚 pool and at the Santa Barbara-owned Los Banos Del Mar Pool. Swim meets will be held at regulation pools in the Western Region and possibly Los Banos. Dave Odell, 黑料百科 athletic director, continues to review coaches for women鈥檚 swimming and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf. Those interested should contact him directly at dodell@westmont.edu. Those interested in applying to attend 黑料百科 should visit westmont.admissions.edu. Applications for fall 2019 open Aug. 1.