Loras College to Host Ribbon Cutting for Keane Hall and Rock Bowl Renovations

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Loras.edu) –Loras College President Jim Collins (’84) will welcome students, faculty, staff, alumni and members from the local community on Thursday, May 2, for the official ribbon cutting and dedication of both the newly renovated Keane Hall and the Finnegan Family Track as part of the Rock Bowl.

At 1:30 p.m., Collins and members of the Loras College Administration will gather inside the entryway to Keane Hall for an official ribbon cutting and blessing. Members from the campus community are encouraged and welcome to attend. Following the ceremony, refreshments will be provided.

Chaired by Bill Glynn and Mark McCarville, the Class of 1968 raised $500,000 in celebration of their 50th reunion and provided critical support for Keane Hall. The project was completed in March of 2019 and features a comprehensive remodel of the entryway, first floor and upgrades to the second floor. In addition, a new elevator was installed, making Keane Hall handicap accessible to all floors of the building.

“The renovation of the entryway is an important and critical next step in the overall renovation of Keane Hall,” Collins shared. “Keane Hall serves as the first and last impression visitors have of Loras. We want Keane Hall to provide a wide array of student learning and student service enhancements that better permit the building to become the “Old Main” that so many other campuses highlight.”

Following the service at Keane Hall, the campus community will transition to the Rock Bowl for the dedication of the Finnegan Family Track, with services scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Paul and Mary Finnegan committed to a matching gift in December of 2017, contributing $250,000 to the overall Rock Bowl renovation project, specifically for a brand new competition track surface. As the parents of a former cross country and track & field student-athlete, Paul and Mary know the importance of a quality facility and know the benefit it can have to the entire campus community.

“The stadium is a central part to Loras life, and it played an important role in our son’s experience at Loras,” Mary shared.

“Finnegan Family Track” has been imprinted on the east end of the Rock Bowl, directly behind the end zone to recognize the financial support and contributions from the Finnegan family.

The next phase of the Rock Bowl renovation project includes the replacement of the existing scoreboard with a state-of-the-art video board and landscape enhancements to the limestone walls. College administrators expect the project to be completed by August 2019.

For those unable to attend, a live stream of both events will be available from the College’s Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo pages.