TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Athletics welcomed back alumni Mike and Mary Blackwell onto campus on Friday for a celebration honoring the naming of the Mike and Mary Blackwell Sports Performance Center.
The Blackwells made a $300,000 philanthropic commitment to support ISU's baseball, football, and strength and conditioning programs as well as the Sycamore Athletics general fund. In recognition of the gift, ISU's Board of Trustees approved the naming of the facility located in the Health and Human Services Building this past fall.
The center, which serves all of ISU's intercollegiate athletes, has an array of weight training equipment, treadmills, and water powered rowers.
Gallery: (5-20-2022) Mike and Mary Blackwell Celebration
"We were glad to welcome Mike and Mary Blackwell back onto campus for this special event," Director of Athletics
Sherard Clinkscales said. "They have supported our student-athletes throughout the years, and we cannot thank them enough for their commitment to provide a state-of-the-art sports performance center for years to come."
Over the years, the Blackwells have supported renovations to ISU's baseball stadium at Bob Warn Field, improvements at Memorial Stadium, funding for the Sycamore Fuel Initiative, and student-athlete scholarships. They received the university's philanthropy award in 2009 for their contributions to ISU.
The Blackwells are Vigo County natives who reside in Madison, Miss. Mike Blackwell graduated from ISU in 1970 with a degree in geology. He played football and baseball for the Sycamores and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He is the former president and lead scientist for Mississippi Oil Co., which he and his business partners established in 1982. The company is an active oil and gas exploration firm in the southeastern U.S.
Mary Blackwell graduated from ISU in 1971 with a degree in elementary education and was active in Alpha Omicron Pi.
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