Miller challenge encourages support for Luther Aquatic Center

Thanks to a generous commitment of $500,000 from David ’64 and Pat Miller of Fort Myers, Fla., donor support for the Luther College Aquatic Center has now reached the $2 million mark.

This contribution will name the David E.G. and Patricia Miller Natatorium, the competition pool for swimming and diving within the new facility. Framed as a challenge to other donors, the Millers’ gift will match 50 cents for every dollar contributed to the pool project. The goal is to help leverage $1 million in additional support from Luther alumni, parents, and friends by no later than September 2012. 

“This challenge gift from the Millers creates an exciting opportunity to accelerate the fundraising efforts for the aquatic center,” said President Richard Torgerson. “Dave and Pat are ‘true blue’ supporters of Luther College and Norse athletics, and we are proud to name the natatorium in their honor.” 

Construction of a new Luther College Aquatic Center with a competition natatorium for swimming and diving has been a longtime dream of students, parents, alumni, and community members. The natatorium will be used for physical education classes and by thousands of competitors from colleges and high schools, as well as community members of all ages. Preliminary designs place the new aquatic center adjacent to the northeast side of the existing Regents Center.

The Miller Natatorium features a competition pool with eight lanes of a consistent eight-foot water depth and a 14-foot-depth diving area. The plan also includes a shallow pool (opposite the diving area) for swimming lessons, adaptive physical education classes, and water aerobics.

The proposed aquatic center is projected to cost $5.5 million. Including the recent Miller gift, Luther has secured $2 million toward the fundraising goal to date. Successful completion of the challenge will help raise an additional

$1 million for the project, providing momentum to meet the overall goal.

“Luther is a special place to us and to our family,” said Dave, “and we are honored to share our support as a way to encourage others to join us in making this much-needed and long-overdue project a reality.”

A 1964 Luther graduate, David Miller played football for the Norse while earning his degree with majors in history and physical education. Both athletics and academics have been giving priorities for Dave and Pat through the years. Together they have generously supported endowed scholarships, the Legends Fitness for Life Center, the Norse Athletic Association, and the Luther College Annual Fund. In 2000, the Millers were recognized as life members of Luther’s President’s Council. 

Formerly residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dave and Pat were considered Luther’s “dynamic duo” in that area for years—always ready to host receptions for prospective students, serve as campaign leaders, and rally support at alumni gatherings. They have two adult children, Shannon (Miller) Duval ’95 and Seth Miller, and five grandchildren. 

“Pat and I are proud to have been leadership donors in supporting the Legends Fitness for Life Center a decade ago, and this challenge gift toward the new Luther College Aquatic Center provides another wonderful expansion of the Regents Center complex,” Dave shared.

According to the Millers, the gifts they have made to Luther pay tribute to the principles of a liberal arts education, emphasizing the development of well-rounded young people.

“Through our support, we hope to honor great mentors and coaches of Luther’s history,” said Dave. “Coaches like Edsel Schweizer and Kent Finanger encouraged us to do everything we can to ‘make things better’ as we go through life—to take the abilities and gifts we’ve been given and use them to make the world a better place. It’s our hope that this gift [for the aquatic center] will provide another world-class environment for that kind of growth and development.”

To help Luther meet the Miller Challenge and share your support for the aquatic center project, contact the Luther Development Office at (563) 387-1862 or go to www.luther.edu/giving/givenow.

Read more about the Luther College Aquatic Center.