Stop-N-Go owners Sheila Carney and Henry Knoll announced a gift of $2 million to NDSU and the athletic department’s Building the Competitive Edge $32 million campaign. The gift will go toward the naming of the Shelly Ellig Indoor Track and Field Facility.
NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani, along with Development Foundation Associate Executive Director Jason Wohlman and Director of Athletics Gene Taylor, accepted the generous gift.
Ellig passed away last year. An avid philanthropist and sports enthusiast, his presence is living on throughout the region, Fargo-Moorhead community and NDSU. The university has the Ellig Sports Complex, which includes the outdoor track and field facility, and soccer and softball fields.
Bresciani said NDSU commands a powerful niche as a student focused, land grant research university, where athletics play an important role. “The generosity of friends like Stop-N-Go is critical to our ability to continue to serve our students and our state,” he said. “I’ve witnessed a remarkable level of commitment and enthusiasm, and on behalf of our student-athletes and the entire university, I want to thank these donors. ”
The 78,000-square foot indoor track and field facility, which seats 1,000, includes a 200-meter, eight-lane track with 42-inch wide lanes with additional practice lanes on the straightaway. There also are multiple long jump, triple jump and pole vault runways, along with a shot put and weight throw sector on the infield.
Taylor said, “We’re very pleased with the generosity from Shelly Ellig. We’re excited to have his name again associated with an outstanding athletic facility here at NDSU. It’s very fitting to have this facility named after Shelly based on our long-term relationship with Shelly and Stop-N-Go.”
The Building the Competitive Edge Campaign will provide a dramatic extension and renovation of the Bison Sports Arena that will transform the facility and the surrounding area, including the track and field venue, into a true Division I athletic complex reflecting the new NDSU. Additionally, it will serve as the “front door” venue welcoming student-athletes and campus guests with the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame, Hall of Champions and various fan services and facilities.
A two-court basketball practice facility will be added to the southwest corner of the existing structure. The west-side addition will house human performance facilities, including strength training, sports medicine and rehabilitation areas. The renovated Bison Sports Arena also will have an academic center for student-athletes.
