North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) marked an important milestone Monday with a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of its “Let’s Light ‘Em Up” athletic facilities project at the NIACC softball field.

The first phase of the project includes new synthetic turf baseball and softball fields, along with upgraded soccer facilities. College leaders, student-athletes, donors, alumni and community members gathered to celebrate the milestone and recognize the generosity of those helping make the project possible.

“Today’s groundbreaking is an exciting first step in bringing our vision for NIACC Athletics to life,” said NIACC President Joel Pedersen. “These new baseball and softball fields are just the beginning of what’s possible. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our NIACC Foundation and donors, we’re moving this project forward, and we’re excited to continue building on that momentum. Together, we’re creating opportunities for our student-athletes, our campus and the entire North Iowa community.”

The new synthetic turf fields will provide more consistent playing conditions and increase opportunities to host athletic events on campus. As fundraising continues, the college plans to add lights to the baseball and softball fields, construct a fieldhouse and make additional improvements that will expand opportunities for student-athletes and the community.

“This is a game changer for our baseball and softball programs at NIACC,” said Ryan Flickinger, NIACC Director of Athletics. “These new fields will allow our student-athletes to spend more time practicing and competing outdoors, extend our seasons and bring Trojan baseball back to campus. It’s an exciting step forward for our programs.”

“This project is about more than NIACC Athletics,” Flickinger continued. “These fields will be a tremendous asset for North Iowa by creating opportunities to host high school games, tournaments and other events that bring visitors to Mason City and support local businesses.”

The “Let’s Light ‘Em Up” campaign remains underway, with gifts continuing to support future phases of the project. Individuals, businesses and organizations interested in contributing can learn more or make a gift by visiting www.niacc.edu/lightemup.

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The mission of North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is to enrich lives through comprehensive educational opportunities, a commitment to learner success, community engagement, and leadership. Founded in 1918, NIACC is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa, serving approximately 3,000 career and transfer students each year. Recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the nation’s leading community colleges, NIACC is where futures are found. Start your journey today at https://www.niacc.edu/apply-mkt/. Future, Found.