Enrollment at Louisiana College has been a headline story in
recent years, jumping some 30 percent since 1997.
A large part of the reason is sports.
Enrollment at Louisiana College has been a headline story in
recent years, jumping some 30 percent since 1997.
A large part of the reason is sports.
The Louisiana Baptist school has added several sports since
Rory Lee became president of the school in 1997. While the addition of mens
football has gained the most attention perhaps, the school now offers a total
of five mens and five womens sports.
Womens sports include basketball, softball, soccer, cross
country and tennis.
Mens sports include basketball, football, golf, soccer
and baseball.
The impact has been noticeable, school Athletic Director Sheila
Thompson said. Indeed, about one-third of the incoming freshmen students this
fall are athletes, she noted, moving the college ever closer to its goal of
having 25 percent of its student body involved in college sports.
“Its impacted the total number (of students) because
if these sports had not been available, some of these students probably would
not be attending Louisiana College,” Thompson acknowledged.
But the impact goes beyond simply enrolling more athletes,
she noted. With the campus spirit associated with organized sports, Thompson
suggested that other students have been drawn to the school as well.
“Its helped school spirit. … Its an added
source of activity for students to be involved in – and we … plan for
how we can get our students involved … and how to use sports to promote student
life.”
Sports also has helped to promote the college to the larger
community, Thompson continued. “It opens the eyes of people to Louisiana
College, because were in the sports pages all the time. … Its
created more awareness of Louisiana College.”
Indeed, some area businesses now have become corporate sponsors
of Louisiana College sports, which Thompson characterized as dependable family
activities.
“We are stable. We are a good family atmosphere. Its
a good environment for families to come to. Thats a positive – and
people want to be a part of that.”
The growth of sports has proven a financial boost for the community
as well, as visiting teams spend time and money in the area, Thompson noted.
“Its a large impact. Its good for the college
and good for the community.”
It also is good for the athletes, who are introduced to a spiritual
element as well as an athletic one at Louisiana College.
“Spiritual development is number one, before winning,
before theyre great, before anything. Thats most important, that
were leading them in the right direction.
“That is our number one focus – and we tell them
that. I tell (athletes) – Your number one priority here is to serve
God, to represent Louisiana College and yourself and who you are and what youre
about.”
The increase in sports offerings has corresponded with the
schools move to a non-scholarship NCAA division – and has resulted
in several campus improvements.
The school has added a training room, renovated the womens
locker room, built a practice football field, soccer field and new tennis courts
and improved its baseball field.
In addition, it currently is building an on-campus softball complex. Thompson
said plans are to play there in the spring.