The future is bright for softball at Union College. Thanks to a generous six-figure donation from long-time benefactor Martin Williamson, lights will soon be installed at the softball field, creating new opportunities for both the campus and community.
“This is going to have a huge impact now and in the future,” says Associate Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach Renee Hicks.
Hicks explains that lighting the field extends the number of hours available for practice, games, and other campus activities and events. Being able to use the field later in the evening means her team will miss fewer classes during the day and be able to focus on their academics more. Later game times also mean more fans can attend without having to take time off from work.
With this new scheduling flexibility, Hicks also hopes to bring in travel teams, host weekend tournaments, and invite local Little League and high school teams to play or practice at the field, as well.
“This is going to create more opportunities for young ladies to play,” Hicks says, “and it’s going to help with recruiting, too.”
“My father was pretty generous with Union himself, and he suggested that if I didn't spend all my money, why don't I give some of it to Union College?” Williamson says. “I found it was easy to do because Union's a pretty likeable place.”
Although he lives in Virginia, is a graduate of the
University of Virginia, and is a dedicated Hoos, Williamson appreciates Union’s unique focus.
“Union educates, particularly, first-generation college students in the Appalachian area. I think they do very well at it,” he says.
Williamson has attended many Union games over the years and looks forward to returning to support the softball team soon.
“Whenever Marcia tells me the lights are installed and a game is being played under the lights, I’ll come down for a game,” he says.
Hicks and Hawkins are hopeful the lights will be installed in time for the last home game of the season at the end of April, and they look forward to thanking Williamson in person.
“This means so much to Union and to our community,” Hicks says, who is a Union alum herself. “We haven’t even told the students yet. I can’t wait to see their faces when they get back and we have our first team meeting.”
Williamson, who is slowly becoming “the light of Union,” so to speak, says he’s not done.
“The goal is to put lights on all the fields,” he says, noting that the one remaining is baseball, which costs more than twice as much as lighting the softball field. “I hope to get around to the baseball field sooner or later. It may or may not be in my lifetime, but I'll try to make sure it happens.”
“I am so grateful to Martin Williamson and so happy that he has found Union a worthy recipient of his gifts,” Hawkins says. “Martin understands that field lights do much more than light a field. They light the whole campus environment and provide opportunities for community participation.”
Home of the Bulldogs, Union is a private, liberal arts-based institution offering 22 varsity sports, a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a variety of undergraduate, pre-professional, and graduate programs to choose from. Over half of Union’s students are from Kentucky, 61% are the first in their families to earn a college degree, and 100% receive scholarships or financial aid.
To learn more about Union’s softball program, see
Softball - Union College (KY) (gounionbulldogs.com) or contact Renee Hicks at
rhicks@unionky.edu.
