Emory & Henry College Athletics is gaining attention and support as it moves toward full NCAA Division II status in the South Atlantic Conference. Such support is evidenced by a recent $50,000 gift from The Bank of Marion, headquartered in Marion,.
“We are honored to be a part of the growth of Emory & Henry College,” said The Bank of Marion’s President and CEO, Christopher B. (Chris) Snodgrass. “We’ve witnessed firsthand the positive economic impact of the college’s School of Health Sciences here in Marion. We applaud the Emory & Henry athletic program’s move to Division II and the college’s investment in new facilities for their student athletes. We have already seen the college’s growth in enrollment. We are very pleased to be a part of this ambitious and exciting investment in Emory & Henry’s future.”
Snodgrass further commented that he and the bank’s board of directors were also impressed by the prospect of hundreds of Emory & Henry College students and thousands of local middle and high school students playing sports including lacrosse, track and field, and soccer at the college’s new MultiSport Complex now in construction at exit 26 just off the I-81 Emory & Henry Education Corridor. It is estimated that the new sports complex will be ready for use by fall 2024. Emory & Henry’s facilities stretch from Marion to Bristol, Virginia and serve more than 1,400 students.
“This is a significant gift to our athletics community,” said Dr. Anne Crutchfield, Vice President for Athletics. “Support from The Bank of Marion will bring needed enhancements to our programs. We’re excited for the attention we are getting in the SAC and seeing how our fan base is growing too.”
The Bank of Marion is providing partial financing of the complex via a $10 million loan.
