Thanks to two alumni, the College is about to make major improvements to its athletic facilities.
The Viniar Family Foundation and David Viniar '76 are
supporting the construction of a multi-use sports facility, and Frank Messa' 73, and his wife, Colleen, are supporting the
renovation of the Achilles Center.
The Viniar gift
The Viniar Family Foundation has made a grant of $2 million to build a multi-use sports facility that will become home to the College's men's and women's basketball teams. The foundation grant follows a personal gift of $1.2 million made earlier by David Viniar '76, which will also be used for this purpose.
“Through the generosity of David Viniar and his family, the College will have a facility
-long overdue-that will be commensurate with the level of our men's and women's basketball programs,” said President Roger Hull. “We are grateful that David chose to honor his own experiences as an exceptional student-
athlete this way.”
Viniar graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics. He was a member of the varsity basketball team, which in 1974-75 compiled a 20-4 record and won an ECAC Upstate New York title. He serves today as a member of the College's Board of Trustees.
After Union, Viniar went
to graduate school at Harvard University, where he received his M.B.A. in 1980. He joined the investment banking firm of Goldman Sachs & Co., where he became a partner in 1992 and chief financial officer in 1999.
An active alumnus, he has volunteered with the Career Development Center, served as an admissions representative, and participated as a member of Friends of Union Athletics. In 1997, he established the Leo and Evelyn Viniar Scholarship at Union in honor of his parents.
“David Viniar understands the importance of athletics in a young person's education,” said Bob Montana, coach of men's basketball. “He is one of the finest examples of a student-athlete.” Mary Ellen Burt, head coach of women's basketball, said, “Through the Viniar family's support, we will have a facility that will raise the visibility of women's basketball at Union and provide an important tool in our efforts to recruit new talent.”
The multi-use building will include two basketball practice courts and one performance court, with spectator seating for 1,000. It will be located southeast of Memorial Field House, with connections to the field house's locker rooms and equipment facilities. The new facility will be used for practices, games, and intramurals. It will relieve congestion in Memorial Field House, the practice site for a number of winter and spring teams. Construction of the facility should begin this fall, with completion by the fall of 2004.
The Messa gift
Frank Messa '73, senior vice president of Ayco Co., and his wife, Colleen, have donated $1.5 million for the renovation of the Achilles Center.
The project will include the replacement of the ice refrigeration system, expansion of the ice surface, enhanced seating, new boards and glass, and renovations to the lobby and locker rooms. The renovated rink will provide a year-round ice surface.
The rink is the home of Union's two ice hockey programs-the men's team, hich plays in the ECAC Division I league, and the women's team, which this year moves to ECAC Division I. The rink is also used by the intramural programs and by a number of hockey and figure skating programs from the local community.
“Frank Messa's support of Union runs long and deep,” said President Hull. “In every way, Frank has been available when Union has called. His recent gift makes possible a significant enhancement for both our student-athletes and the many members of the local community who support them. The rink enhancements also make possible the year-round development of athletes from both the College and community.”
Val Belmonte, director of athletics, said the renovations “will create one of the finest venues in the ECAC and enhance our ability to compete and recruit.”
“Union College has been an important part of my life since I first came to the campus,” said Messa. “I am proud to be able to contribute to this project.”
Messa received his bachelor's degree magna cum laude in political science and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After earning a J.D. degree from Albany Law School in 1976, he joined Ayco, the largest fee-based financial counseling firm in the nation. He was named senior vice president in 1996. He is also chief executive officer of estate financial services for the company.
Among his many community service activities, he has been a member of the Board of Directors for United Way of Northeastern New York, a trustee of the Albany Academy for Girls, and a trustee of St. Gregory's School for Boys. He has served on the Parents Committee of the Hotchkiss School and Duke University.
As a Union alumnus, he is a member of the College's Board of Trustees, a former member of the Trustee Board of Advisors, class president, Alumni Council representative, and national chairman of the Annual Fund. He created the Frank Messa '73 Endowed Scholarship and recently received the Alumni Gold Medal from the Alumni Council for service to the College.