Saint Ambrose University in Davenport is well on the way to completing the largest capital campaign in its history. Wednesday, university officials announced they've raised more than 13 million dollars of the 18.5 million needed to build a new Wellness and Recreation Center.
The president, Sister Joan Lecinski, says to attract and serve students, colleges need excellent academic programs, but they also need modern facilities.
One of the co-chairs of the fund raising campaign, "Building Our Future," is Mike Johnson. He says since the current P.E. Center opened more than 30 years ago (1983), the number of students attending Saint Ambrose has more than doubled.
Six hundred students attended the college in the early 80's, but now there are 1,800. And the number of varsity sports has grown from 8 to 23.
Ground will be broken for the new 80,000 square foot Wellness and Recreation Center on Thursday, and completion is expected by the fall of next year (2017).
