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Celebration and Gratitude at MNU’s Copeland Athletic Complex Groundbreaking
Hundreds gathered September 20, 2023, to mark the groundbreaking for the Copeland Athletic Complex at MNU. More than 400 MNU student-athletes were among Olathe community members, city officials, project donors, MNU alumni, faculty and staff who celebrated the achievement of a dream.
In just over a year, students will have a state-of-the-art football stadium and track, ending the need for those athletes to practice and compete off campus. The facility will span 11 acres adjacent to Dixon Baseball Stadium, Williams Softball Field, Pioneer Soccer Field, and Cook Center. Boasting cutting-edge amenities, the complex promises to revolutionize the athletic experience for athletes and fans alike.
The Copeland Athletic Complex is named for 1984 MNU alumnus and six-term Olathe Mayor, Michael Copeland. Copeland passed away August 19, 2020, leaving a mark of incredible leadership on Olathe and MNU.
Those in attendance at the groundbreaking heard from Olathe City Manager Michael Wilkes, Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management Dr. Jeff DeGraffenreid (’96), Mrs. Maria Copeland on behalf of the Michael Copeland family, MNU President David Spittal and other MNU leaders.
Amazing things have happened on this ground. I call it the second classroom. We are committed to supporting what we ask our students to do…achieve excellence. We want to help students any way we can to rise to their potential.
Dr. David Spittal
MNU President
Major donors for the project joined Dr. and Mrs. David Spittal (center left), Mrs. Maria Copeland (center), Josh Copeland and Jana Sparrow as the first shovels of dirt were turned on the Copeland Athletic Complex.
MNU’s athletic and student life programs treat practice, competition and teamwork as an important learning and refining experience that will bolster their success in all areas of life. The investment in spaces for that purpose will reap benefits for generations, just as MNU’s investment in a young man from California who came to Olathe in the 1980s to play football resulted in the longest-serving mayor in Olathe.
Without dedicated volunteers and donors who united to raise an astounding $8 million in just one year, the university would not have qualified for a $2-million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The incentive provided by the Mabee Foundation cannot be overstated according to Dr. Jon North, vice president for university advancement. North thanked the community of supporters who made the dream a reality, including The Campaign Committee and Copeland Task Force.
Partners in the planning and construction of the project are PGAV Architects and A.L. Huber General Contractor, both of whom were partners on MNU’s Cunningham Center which opened in 2021.
See more photos from the groundbreaking on MNU’s Flickr account at flickr.com/photos/mnu-pioneers, and read about the Bright Futures Campaign for MNU at mnu.edu/bright-futures.
