OAK GROVE RECEIVES $1.25 MILLION GIFT;
NAMES NEW CENTER THE
ELLIG CENTER FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS
Oak Grove Lutheran School is pleased to announce that Mr. Shelly Ellig, owner of Stop-N-Go stores in Fargo, has committed to gift $1.25 million toward the school’s Centennial Campaign, one of the largest gifts in the school’s history. Oak Grove Lutheran School also announces the naming of its newly constructed wellness center as the Ellig Center for Health & Wellness. Currently, Oak Grove Lutheran School has raised $14.4 million in gifts and pledges toward its Centennial Campaign goal of $18.0 million.
Mr. Ellig owns Fargo-based Stop-N-Go convenience stores and Frank McKone Cigars. Since purchasing Stop-N-Go and Frank McKone Cigars in 1974, Mr. Ellig has grown his company to include 350 employees at 27 locations from Carrington, N.D. to Alexandria, Minn, 17 of which are located in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. As a Lutheran, Mr. Ellig is proud to support Christian education in the Fargo-Moorhead area and have a lasting impact on student education and athletic accomplishments. Mr. Ellig, Ms. Sheila Carney, vice president and CFO of Stop-N-Go, Mr. Henry Knoll, operations manager of Frank McKone Cigar, and his valued employees are philanthropic community leaders, committed to giving back to the community that has so richly given to them.
The Ellig Center will be the key venue for the school’s Health & Wellness Initiative. The initiative introduces comprehensive wellness programming, individualized student wellness plans, flexible physical education courses and year-round opportunities, and the use of technology to integrate health and wellness concepts into core academic courses. The initiative focuses on seven pillars of wellness – spiritual, physical, emotional, social, vocational, environmental, and intellectual – and is designed to improve the overall health of students through deliberate and consistent attention. To facilitate the initiative, Oak Grove has hired Mr. John Whartnaby as its Health & Wellness Coordinator.
Construction of the Ellig Center for Health & Wellness and renovations of the Darwin Gorder Gymnasium, part of Phase III of Oak Grove’s Centennial Campaign, began in May 2008. More than 6,700 square feet was added to the gymnasium, including the Ellig Center, school store, restroom facilities, locker rooms and additional lobby space. Multi-purpose classrooms and a cardio fitness room were added to the second floor of the complex, while expanded concessions area and additional office space were incorporated on the first floor.
Funding for Phase III was provided by Oak Grove’s Centennial Campaign, the school’s largest fundraising effort to date. The campaign’s original goal was to raise $10 million to enhance and expand facilities, support the annual operating budget, and increase student aid. Since the goal was set in 2005, Oak Grove’s vision has grown and changed to include new ventures, such as an elementary school and technology initiative. The new campaign goal of $18 million includes funding of the Health and Wellness Initiative, capital improvements, annual operating support, endowment growth, and support for the school’s on-going technology initiative.
Phase I of the Centennial Campaign renovated classrooms and office space in Jackson Hall and added a concourse, connecting Jackson Hall with the Darwin Gorder Gymnasium. The renovations were completed in fall 2005. Phase II constructed the Scheels Center for the Performing Arts and connecting link to Arvid Benson Hall. Construction on the Scheels Center was completed in May of 2007. The center includes a 700+ seat auditorium that doubles as an athletic gymnasium, prayer chapel, and rehearsal and office space, and houses the Hetland Gallery.
The Oak Grove Centennial Campaign is led by volunteer co-chairs Mr. Jon Rustvang and Mr. Steve Zimmerman, current and past Oak Grove parents. They, along with a committee of 15 Oak Grove administrators, parents, alumni and friends, are steering the Centennial Campaign.
