Students gathered at Dumke Field Tuesday night for the unveiling of new stadium lights, which were officially installed mid-September. However, the installation has been long-awaited from student-athletes, who say the lights will make practice and game scheduling more flexible.
The project was entirely funded through donors, according to Westminster College. The installation was completed in order to meet the NCAA requirements for lighting standards.
Those requirements consider “student-athlete safety, energy use, environmental impact and broadcast quality,” according to the college.
Westminster completed its transition into NCAA Division II membership in 2018, requiring the facility to meet those standards.
The Dumke Field is used for practices and competitions for Westminster’s intercollegiate teams, as well as campus recreational activities.
College officials said that after 15 years of use, the field was “overdue” for upgrades to its lighting system.
