FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU Athletics has witnessed its third significant lead gift as part of the Alico Arena expansion & enhancement project, through the extreme generosity of Mike and Karen Hartley who have donated $1 million. In particular, the funds will be earmarked toward the creation of the Hartley Academic Resource Center for the development of Eagle student-athletes. The gift is the third seven-figure donation as part of the Department of Athletics' $12-million capital campaign and allows for construction to commence.
 
"We are elated to be in a position to contribute toward FGCU's expansion," the Hartleys stated. "FGCU's academic and athletics achievements, as well as its quality student-athletes, are a huge asset for Southwest Florida. We have supported individual athletics scholarships for a few years, and we find the opportunity to share some of our successes with this historical project personally rewarding. The Hartley Academic Resource Center will offer expanded learning opportunities to all student-athletes at this first-class institution of higher learning, and we're excited and proud to be able to support it."
 
The Hartleys have been active members of the Eagles Scholarship Society – the highest annual giving designation for FGCU Athletics – and basketball season ticket holders since 2014. This year, their scholarship recipient is women's basketball player Sydnei McCaskill. The couple have been supporters and boosters of FGCU Athletics and very active volunteers for Night at the Nest, the department's largest and most successful annual fundraising gala.
 
"We are extremely blessed to be the beneficiaries of Mike and Karen's tremendous kindness," said Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "Through this magnanimous gift, we are afforded invaluable resources to greatly assist our capabilities to further support the academic pursuits of our current and future student-athletes, as we seek to provide much-needed enhanced facilities to place us on par with the awesome overall accomplishments that our teams have been collectively producing."
 
The Hartley Academic Resource Center will be on the first floor of the Alico expansion on the building's front side, closest to Swanson Stadium. It will include offices for the Student-Athlete Learning Center's staff, work spaces for group projects, numerous computers lining the glass exterior, seven private tutoring areas and living, study and conference rooms.
 
"This generous gift from Mike and Karen Hartley will provide our student-athletes with more space, better resources and an improved learning environment," added Kelly Jean Brock, Assistant AD and Director of the Student-Athlete Learning Center. "Our student-athletes have exceeded the overall FGCU student body GPA for 14-straight semesters, and these enhancements will only help them further surpass their peers and position themselves well for life after intercollegiate athletics."
 
The Hartleys' donation puts FGCU Athletics past the Phase I goal of $8 million for Alico's enhancements. The upgrades began last year with the addition of a four-sided LED video board and courtside tables. In addition to the Hartley Academic Resource Center, Phase I construction will include an expanded sports medicine area, the addition of new men's and women's basketball suites and the re-configuring of 3rd-floor office spaces. Phase I is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2017-18 academic year in August.
 
"Getting to know Mike and Karen over the last few years has been a blessing," added Assistant AD for Advancement Graham Diemer. "They have supported FGCU Athletics in so many ways, and I'm honored to call them great friends. We can't thank them enough for making this exceptional investment to ensure the continued academic excellence of our student-athletes."
 
This past spring, FGCU student-athletes posted a 3.30 cumulative GPA. Perfectly embodying success on and off the field, an incredible six (out of 15 sports offered) FGCU student-athletes were named their respective sport's Scholar-Athlete of the Year last year: Stephanie Haas (ASUN Women's Basketball), Andres Alfonzo (ASUN Men's Tennis), Elizabeth Means (ASUN Women's Tennis), Mei Khuan Yong (ASUN Women's Golf), Lani Cabrera (CCSA Women's Swimming & Diving) and Austin Schultz (ASUN Men's Golf).
 
Additionally, Haas and men's basketball forward Marc-Eddy Norelia were chosen as I-AAA Scholar-Athletes – members of separate 10-person teams nationally for men's and women's basketball for the 100 Division-I institutions which don't sponsor football.
 
Previously, Dean and Janie Schreiner committed $1 million toward the expansion of Alico's sports medicine area, and Jim and Donna Sublett earmarked $1 million for a strength and conditioning facility exclusively for FGCU student-athletes which will be included as part of the Phase II construction, in addition to a plethora of other upgrades and additions.

Currently, FGCU's student-athletes do not have a dedicated space to work out as they share the weight room with the university's nearly 15,000 student body. Despite this, FGCU teams – which won the ASUN All-Sports Championship for the third time in four years in 2015-16 – have combined to win an incredible 54 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 9+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just five years of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have produced seven nationally-ranked programs and had 23 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships.
 
The other $4 million as part of the Department of Athletics Capital Campaign will be put toward scholarships, recruiting budgets, additional facility enhancements and strategic areas of focus. FGCU only has the NCAA maximum allowable scholarships in seven of its 15 programs.
 
The $12 million goal for athletics is part of the university's $100 million fundraising campaign, which was publicly launched two years ago and concludes in June, 2017.
 
People interested in donating to the athletics campaign should contact Diemer at 239-590-7117 or gdiemer@fgcu.edu. To learn more about the athletics capital campaign, visit FGCUAthletics.com/CapitalCampaign.
 
ABOUT FGCU
Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sports. In 2014-15, FGCU finished 9th in the Division I-AAA Learfield Sports Director Cup final standings, ahead of several prominent Big East, Missouri Valley and Atlantic 10 Conference members.
 
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SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.