First Bank & Trust Commits $1 Million To Build SDSU Indoor Practice, Human Performance Center

First Bank & Trust has pledged $1 million in support of the Indoor Practice and Human Performance Center at South Dakota State University. The gift puts SDSU significantly closer to the project’s $32 million goal.

“First Bank & Trust certainly considers this an important investment in SDSU athletics,” bank President Kevin Tetzlaff said. “We are equally excited about the impact on our community by having such a distinct facility that will be a destination for student-athletes throughout the region. We are pleased to be a part of making this a reality.”

With First Bank & Trust’s commitment, $28 million has now been raised from more than 400 donors.

“We are fortunate to have a great partner like First Bank & Trust step forward once again,” said Justin Sell, SDSU’s Director of Athletics. “The bank and the Fishback family have a long relationship with athletics and the university as a whole. We are sprinting toward the finish of an unprecedented fundraising effort, and First Bank & Trust has given us enormous momentum as we head down the stretch.”

If fundraising goals are reached, construction will begin this summer on the 161,500-square-foot complex directly north of Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. The facility could be occupied by late fall 2014.

The indoor practice and human performance facility has been a long-identified need at SDSU. It is a major component in the 2025 Master Plan for athletics.

The complex will include an eight-lane, 300-meter indoor track, with a pole vault, long jump, triple jump and throwing areas. It also features 100 yards of artificial turf and a clear-span ceiling 65 feet high.

The indoor practice facility will be the largest privately funded building of It Starts with STATE: A Campaign for South Dakota State University. The six-year campaign surpassed its $200 million goal in August 2012. By Dec. 31, 2012, the campaign had received $224.8 million in gifts and pledges. The campaign will conclude April 24, with on-campus celebrations scheduled for April 25-26.