A new state-of-the-art video board is greeting students, staff and campus visitors to Welch Stadium this fall.
Roberta Shogren of Hutchinson led a group of donors whose gifts have provided the Dennis Shogren Scoreboard to honor her late husband.
The scoreboard will be formally dedicated on Thursday, Sept. 10, at a ceremony during the Hornets’ first home football game of the season, against the University of Central Missouri. To get tickets to the game, call the Memorial Union ticket office at 620-341-NEST.
“We greatly appreciate this generous gift in support of Hornet Athletics. The video board will add a new dimension of entertainment, excitement and energy for our fans. It will transform the game day experience,” said Shane Shivley, Emporia State Foundation vice president for development.
Roberta Shogren’s gift continued the couple’s unwavering commitment to the university, through financial support and Dennis’ informal scouting reports to Emporia State Athletics Department.
Dennis regularly pored over newspapers from around the state, searching for and following talented high-school athletes’ accomplishments, then forwarding the information to Emporia State. Dennis appreciated kids who worked hard.
Sports figured heavily into Shogren’s years at Emporia State. He lettered in baseball and basketball and was a part of the team that played in the NAIB national basketball championships three years in a row.
The LED video board and new audio system featured in the Daktronics scoreboard will incorporate live video, custom animation with full-color graphics, up-to-the-minute sports statistics, timing and results information.
Football Coach Garin Higgins said the scoreboard also will be a tool to recruit talented athletes to Emporia State, as facilities gain a prominent role in students’ decision-making.
“I think I have an amazing young staff that does a great job of recruiting,” Higgins said, “but I also think that in this day and age, bells and whistles are important.”
The Dennis Shogren Scoreboard, measuring approximately 35 feet by 41 feet, fulfills that description and more.
The Shogrens have shown loyal dedication to Emporia State, beginning when both were students at what was then known as Kansas State Teachers College. The association has spanned almost 70 years.
While at KSTC, Dennis’s sister introduced him to Roberta Bell, whose parents owned a grocery store on the north side of town, not far from the college. By 1948, he and Roberta had married and in 1950, he graduated with a bachelor of science in education.
He was a United States Navy Veteran serving in World War II. He joined the First National Bank in St. John, KS where he served as President for 35 years.
He was inducted into the Emporia State Athletics Hall of Honor in 1988.
About Now & Forever
Launched in February 2012, Now & Forever: The Campaign for Emporia State University is a five- to seven-year effort with a working goal of $45 million. It is already the most successful fund-raising initiative in university history, with financial commitments now exceeding $40 million.
The campaign supports student scholarships, academic departments and initiatives that advance Emporia State’s mission of preparing students for lifelong learning, rewarding careers, and adaptive leadership.
For more information about Now & Forever giving opportunities, contact Shane Shivley at sshivley@emporia.edu or 620-341-5440.