Shippensburg University celebrated the Kathryn Huhges Seaber Raiders Academic Center for Student-Athletes (RAC) with a socially distanced ribbon cutting on April 8. The center began operating in late 2019, but a formal opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Located in the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library, the center serves Ship’s nearly 500 student-athletes and provides for their unique needs, including academic coaching, study hall, tutoring, learning support as well as career services and academic skill and student-athlete development workshops. Additionally, the RAC actively collaborates with The Learning Center, the Career, Mentoring, and Professional Development Center, and other campus-wide programming.
“Though the work of this center has been going on for nearly a year, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to officially mark its significance to the campus and to our athletes. The work of the staff here at the Kathryn Hughes Seaber Raider Academic Center for Student Athletes, and of the faculty-athletic mentors are important components in ensuring our athletes’ success,” said President Lauria A. Carter
Ship’s student-athletes routinely outpace the general student body in both semester and overall cumulative QPA. The fall 2020 semester saw 40 percent of student athletes earning Dean’s list recognition and 70 percent earning at least a 3.0 GPA.
Mrs. Kathryn Hughes Seaber, for who the center is named, was in attendance at the celebration and recognized for her generosity.
“We are so appreciative that philanthropy has always been important to Kathryn Seaber and her family. Her generosity has helped make this center an attractive and welcoming space for student-athletes now and into the future. We are also grateful to Kathryn for establishing the Kathryn Hughes Seaber Educational Impact Scholarship to support students pursuing undergraduate degrees and other initiatives within the College of Education and Human Services,” said Dr. Leslie Folmer Clinton, President and CEO, Shippensburg University Foundation.
