college news
College breaks ground on Marty Holly Athletics Center
(Above) C of I President Marv Henberg, former head football coach and alumnus Ed “Buzz” Bonaminio ‘56 and current head football coach Mike Moroski at the Marty Holly Athletics Center groundbreaking in September. (Right) Athletic Director Marty Holly, namesake of the new facility, has been at the C of I for more than 30 years.
T
he College of Idaho’s new $4 million athletics facility will be named in honor of long-time Athletic Director Marty Holly. Construction of the Marty Holly Athletics Center is under way at Symms Athletic Field on campus. The College broke ground on the project Sept. 5, launching an approximately 11-month project for the first new campus building since the Village Apartments were completed in 2002. “This is an auspicious day,” C of I President Marv Henberg said. “The Athletics Center that will rise in the days to come will support all of our studentathletes as they continue to strive for excellence.” Dozens attended the groundbreaking for the Center, which will provide training and support facilities for all Coyote studentathletes, including the reinstated football team that begins competition next fall. The naming of the building was announced during a standing-room-only ceremony Nov. 4 in Sterry Hall. Holly, who earlier this year was named the Cascade Conference Athletic Director of
the Year, is in his 33rd year at the C of I. He has played an instrumental role in the reinstatement of the football program as well as the College’s continued excellence across all sports. “This College is so close to taking off on a national stage,” Holly said. “I believe that from the bottom of my heart, and if this building helps in any way, then I am so proud to have my name on it.” Naming the building after Holly was an idea carried out by C of I alumni and supporters John Bequette ’78, Linda Bequette ’89 and Jim Grigsby ’82, who have combined to contribute more than $400,000 toward the building. Ongoing construction will complete Phase I of the Marty Holly Athletics Center. Phase II of the project will add a $1.2 million Outdoor Education Center to bolster the College’s programs for all students to enjoy the outdoors and develop an appreciation for nature. Video coverage from both the groundbreaking and naming ceremonies is available on the C of I YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/goyotes.
Banner year continues for Professor Diane Raptosh The awards continue to pile up for College of Idaho
book of poetry, American Amnesiac, for which she was
professor Diane Raptosh in 2013.
named to the National Book Foundation’s Longlist for
Raptosh—a 1983 C of I alumna who teaches creative
the 2013 National Book Award in Poetry in September.
writing, composition and literature as the College’s
Raptosh’s award-winning run in 2013 is virtually
Eyck-Berringer Chair in English—in May was named
unprecedented among Idaho writers. But even as the
Idaho’s Writer in Residence, the highest literary
accolades roll in, Raptosh remains focused on the
recognition and largest financial award accorded to an
process of writing as well as employing the written
Idaho writer. The three-year appointment by the Idaho
word to open new doors for her students and the
Commission on the Arts includes a $10,000 prize and
public.
allows Raptosh to share her work at annual public
“Not all years are like this,” Raptosh said. “As a
readings and special events across the state.
writer, most of your time is spent in the privacy of
“I am thrilled and humbled to have the honor
your own mind, struggling. But, as I tell my students,
of serving as the state’s Writer in Residence,” Raptosh said. “To be an
the writing is where it’s at. It’s not about awards or books. The real action is
ambassador for literature—for poetry, in particular—at the level of the city
at the writing table. This just happens to be a time in my life when I have an
and now of the state, is one of the highest honors I can imagine.”
opportunity to get out more, put some work out there and introduce people to
Earlier in 2013, Raptosh was selected as Boise’s first Poet Laureate, a position that allowed her to share poetry at public events and readings celebrating the city’s 150th anniversary. She also recently published her fourth
other writers as well, and that’s an honor.” Check out a video interview with Diane on the C of I YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/goyotes.
quest • page 14