Launching a Phoenix-like rebirth

A crowd of about 300 students, faculty, staff and community members ringed the circle outside the Phoenix Sports Center for a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 1. Chancellor Bruce Shepard told the audience the current facility's transformation into something far greater — a modern sports and events center — will be positively Phoenix-like.

Doing the honors with first dig were representatives of the project's three primary partners. From left are John Kress, president of the George F. Kress Foundation (representing all private donors); Chancellor Bruce Shepard of UW-Green Bay (state involvement); Jim Kress and his wife, Julie; and student government president Nathan Petrashek (all UW-Green Bay students).

Pending Board of Regents approval, the new Kress Events Center will be named for one of the community's first families of philanthropy. Posing near a framed sketch are Kress family members who attended Tuesday's groundbreaking. Jim and Julie Kress (foreground) are joined by Jim's sons John and Will (holding his own son).

Enthusiasm: Leaving the ground to break ground was Nathan Petrashek, president of UW-Green Bay student government (note the hang time at far right). With him, from left, are Assistant Dean Brenda Amenson-Hill with former student-fee-allocation leader Joe Pieper and current student leader Joe Smith.

John Kress, president of the family foundation, greeted campus and community friends, pre-ceremony.

Students check out sketches of the planned student sports and events center at a reception inside the Phoenix Sports Center following the groundbreaking.

Prof. Kumar Kangayappan, Provost Sue K. Hammersmith and library staff member Mary Naumann take their turn inspecting the sketches.