Southwestern College will celebrate the final game inside Sonner Stadium and the groundbreaking for the new Richard L. Jantz Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7.  The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at halftime of the Southwestern—Tabor football game.

Several local dignitaries will be at the stadium for the groundbreaking ceremony.  The ceremony gives the college a chance to pay tribute to the many supporters of the stadium project.

The college has announced that construction of the new stadium on campus will begin in early 2010, with the goal of having the stadium ready for competition for the fall 2010 football and soccer season.  The stadium will be named for Jantz, a 1970 graduate of Southwestern.  Jantz lives in Lawrence and is owner of Millard Management, a crop insurance company serving farmers across the region.  Jantz is a former member of the college’s Board of Trustees.

Southwestern College President Dick Merriman says that the college has not completed its fund raising campaign for the stadium but feels that by showing progress on the new stadium new donors may be inspired to contribute.  Merriman is grateful to SC alumni and the community for helping out.

“The college’s alumni and friends have responded well,” Merriman says.  “These pledges, combined with the $1 million commitment from the Winfield public schools, will allow us to begin construction of the stadium in early 2010 season.  The new stadium should be ready and waiting for the fall 2010 football season.” 

For more information about the ceremony or how to contribute, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at Southwestern at (800) 846-1543 ext. 6279 or (620) 229-6279.