Clemson University officials celebrated the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex on Friday, Sept. 16. President Jim Clements and Board of Trustees Chair Kim Wilkerson joined Dave and Lynette Snow and other project donors in a special dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Championship Field. The ceremony also included groundbreaking for the Davidson Family Field.
The Snow Complex has been in operation for several years behind a transformational lead gift from Dave and Lynette Snow in 2014. They later matched $1 million in private donations through the Snow Challenge, spearheading an aggressive fundraising campaign. The complex currently includes the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center, LoConte Family Field and Championship Field.
The Snow Complex sits on what is perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces of property at Clemson. Dave and Lynette (Snow) saw the possibilities of this property and had the vision of seeing this space as a place where students would come to enjoy the best outdoor facilities and recreation area in the nation. Not only have Dave and Lynette given so generously of their time and resources, but they have also challenged and inspired others to give back to Clemson. We thank everyone who has given to this initiative.
president jim Clements
Students resumed normal campus operations in FY22, and perhaps no venue benefitted more than the Snow Complex. This past year, more than 4,500 unique students participated in Intramural Sports and 2,600 in Club Sports. Many sports programs utilize the LoConte and Championship fields for practice and competition.
Clemson opened the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center in 2020 following a gift from Don and Hayden Quattlebaum. Andy’s, as it is affectionately known to Campus Recreation staff and students alike, was named Most Outstanding Facility in 2022 by the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association. In FY22, 1,200+ unique students participated in Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE) programs and more than 14,000 items were rented at Andy’s, including kayaks and paddleboards.
This summer, new entrance signage was added to the facility. Future projects slated for the complex include the Davidson and Reed fields, Fischer Family Welcome Center and Mitsopoulos Event Lawn.
“Clemson University has one of the highest Intramural Sports participation rates in the country,” said Dave Snow, who has served on both the President’s Advisory Board and Student Affairs Executive Council. “We talked about needing more fields to be able to accommodate the growth, so it’s gratifying when we hear how many students are using these fields.”
The ceremony also included remarks from Clemson student Maggie Brewer, who serves as a graduate assistant for the CORE program. Brewer graduated from Clemson in August 2022 and served as an equipment specialist and trip leader prior to her graduate assistantship.
“The Snow Complex stirs a sense of belonging and sense of place for me,” she said. “I joined the CORE staff in January of my freshman year. Between CORE and soccer intramurals, the Snow Complex became a place where I could escape the hustle of classes and enjoy the beauty of Clemson and Lake Hartwell. Over the past two and a half years, I have seen the Snow Complex give the Clemson community the same sense of place. We are so grateful to the Snows and others for providing this space.”