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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence
The Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence, which is located on the third floor of the Field House, provides all students who strive to balance the challenges of representing UNH as students and as Division I athletes. The $1.9 million dollar academic center supports individual and team-based programs for personal growth, life skills, academic support, career planning, networking, and community service.
Features of the Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence include complete wireless Internet capability and a welcoming environment where student-athletes enjoy a comfortable, well-equipped and quiet study space staffed by advisors or tutors to assist them in optimizing their time. The center includes a functional resource room and quiet study space in addition to a breakout room and team/group meeting space in the main reading room that can fit up to 72 individuals.
A new elevator in the main lobby of the Field House makes the center readily accessible for UNH student-athletes with disabilities as part of the UNH Athletics/Northeast Passage partnership. The center enhances the university's ability to attract talented and dedicated student-athletes, provides them with the tools they need to succeed, gives them access to mentoring and networking services, and assists them in finding internships, employment, and/or post-graduate opportunities.
The center equips UNH Athletics with the functionality and programming space required to reach a greater number of student-athletes and make a difference in the development of the "whole person."
The Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence was funded entirely on private donations. Those who made it possible include E.G. Watkins Family Foundation, Arthur M. Connelly '70, the Chandler family, David and Jerilyn Brownell, J. Michael '73 and Marilyn P. Hickey '73, Bradley J. '65, '78G and Judith K. Aiken, the Todd '91 and Melanie Baker '91 Fund, Susan G. '75 and Tidoe Beaulieu, Dr. Richard J. '77 and Tina Duffy, David G. Steelman '67, '70G and Virginia Theo-Steelman '62, '69G, Martin and Sarah McEvoy.