Princeton is one of the few colleges in the US which has a dedicated rugby field house. The building’s architect, George Hibbs, AIA, principal of the noted architectural firm, Clarke Caton and Hintz based in Trenton, was also on hand and was thanked for his vision and execution of the project. The project was completed on time and on budget under the supervision of Princeton’s Senior Associate Athletics Director Jeff Graydon, who was recognized at the ceremony.
Alumni Comments at the Event
A two-time Princeton Captain who returned for the dedication and played against the undergraduates later was Elaine Bigelow, Princeton Class of 2010. Elaine, now in medical school in Maryland said, “Rugby is a great sport because it can find a place for players of all sizes, shapes and athletic abilities. Sure, we welcome experienced players from the United Kingdom, Argentina, Africa, Asia or elsewhere. But like me, and so many other Princeton Rugby players through the years, most U.S. players have never seen a game before their first competitive match. Usually, we played other sports before arriving at Princeton and get great coaching here.” She added, “Along the way, players forge life-long bonds of camaraderie from a shared commitment.”
Paul Haaga, remarked before the ribbon-cutting opened the facility, “Because the players themselves usually handle personnel decisions (who plays and who does not), scheduling, budgeting, finances, travel and administrative details, over the years we’ve learned that these students pick up valuable management skills that aren’t often taught in college. This often results in more successful careers and family lives.”
Graduating Senior Co-Captain, Olivia Girard ’13, added, “Thanks to all Princeton Rugby Friends for helping us get this far. We truly believe this is only the beginning! We’re so excited that before we graduated we are able to use the new Princeton Rugby Team Rooms and celebrate this great day with so many Alumnae. These facilities can only improve the Princeton Rugby experience for all those Princeton Rugby players who will follow. We are Tigers for life.”
Donors Honored by Princeton
In addition to the Haagas, thousands of Princeton Rugby players donated small and large amounts to support the largely self-funded program. The Princeton Rugby Endowment is the primary funding vehicle for coaching, fields, facilities, equipment and certified athletics trainers.
Princeton University unveiled a Donor Wall during the Dedication, reflecting nearly four-dozen Princetonians who gave at least $25,000 to the Rugby Endowment since 2007. Among the donors present and honored on the Donor Wall are Sue and Ken Koranda, who set up a $500,000 matching gift challenge for rugby coaching in honor of their rugby-playing son, Rob, who died soon after he graduated.
Responding to the Koranda Challenge, 100% of the Class of 2013, Women and Men, committed to give to the Rugby Coaching Endowment Fund for 5 years. When the Senior Class gifts are matched, this could lead to more than $50,000 from Princeton’s youngest rugby alumni. The 1261 members of the Class of 2013 graduated at Princeton’s 266th commencement ceremony yesterday, on June 4, 2013.
Inspired by the Senior Class, 80% of the players on the Women’s teams who played for retiring Coach Emil Signes (Classes of 2004-2012) pledged to give for the next 5 years which, when matched could generate over $130,000 for the Princeton Rugby Coaching Endowment. In addition, 100% of the Men’s Classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012 have committed to give to this rugby coaching endowment for the next 5 years.
BACKGROUND ON THE HAAGAS: The Haagas have been major benefactors to Princeton, supporting a student theater at Princeton, endowing a curatorship of prints and drawings of the Princeton Art Museum, and supporting a portion of the Princeton University’s internationally renowned rowing center.
Paul Haaga retired last year as Chair of the Capital Research and Management Company, one of the largest mutual fund management companies in the world. He serves on the boards of National Public Radio, the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, the Huntington Library, and the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Heather Haaga is a Vassar College graduate and member of its Board of Trustees, and also serves on the boards of the Princeton Theological Seminary and Berea College.
