FARMVILLE, Va. -- More than 30 years after they left campus, Brad Pomp '92 and Shannon Nunnally Pomp '93 still credit their Longwood experience as foundational to the success they have enjoyed as business owners, professionals, and civically engaged members of their Oviedo, Florida, community. As longtime supporters of their alma mater, they have paid that forward by funding scholarships and initiatives designed to provide that same transformative experience for the Lancers that have followed in their footsteps.
Longwood recognized the latest example of the Pomp's generosity Friday by dedicating the newly renovated Pomp Sports Performance Center, a fully donor-funded revitalization of the primary athletic training facility in Iler Hall for Longwood student-athletes.
With the Pomps in attendance for the formal dedication, Longwood students and staff packed the state-of-the-art facility for a ribbon-cutting and remarks from President W. Taylor Reveley IV, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Hall, student-athletes and the Pomps.
"The Pomp Sports Performance Center stands as a testament to the enduring bond between Brad and Shannon Pomp and their alma mater, Longwood University," said Hall, who leads Longwood's 16-team Division I athletics department. "We talk frequently about matching the visions we have as a university with donor interests, and today is a clear example of that."
"This couple has always held a deep affection for the community that shaped their early years," continued Hall. "The lessons and values instilled in them at Longwood have remained a cornerstone of their success. The establishment of this center not only honors that journey but also reflects their commitment to giving back to the institution that played a pivotal role in their lives."
Funded by the Pomps' gift and another contribution from Longwood athletics sponsor Bank of the James, the full-scale renovation of Longwood's upgraded athletics training facility was spearheaded by Director of Sports Performance Luke Toburen and took place from the ground up.
New rubber flooring, including inlaid Olympic lifting platforms, provide a solid and durable foundation for all methods of weight training, plyometrics, agility training and more. A new HVAC system controls the climate, ensuring the center's ability to host workouts year-round. The facility also received an aesthetic makeover, complete with large-scale Longwood marquees, new lighting and audio-visual equipment, and Longwood blue and white paint from the floor to the ceiling.
At the heart of the Pomp Sports Performance Center, though, is a collection of top-of-the-line, modular Sorinex weight training equipment that allows Longwood student-athletes to engage in numerous training methods specific to their sport — from endurance to speed, power and explosiveness. With lifting stations to support dozens of athletes at a time, the space can accommodate Longwood's largest teams or multiple teams at once.
"Our goal as an athletics department is to enhance the student-athlete experience by the pursuit of excellence and winning," Toburen said. "This facility vaults us into the top tier of mid-major athletics in terms of sports performance facilities, and it fuels that pursuit of excellence by allowing us to train our athletes in a manner that will prevent injuries and keep them healthy for more practices and games."
Iler Hall, located just off Brock Commons near the middle of campus, has long served as the primary sports performance facility for Longwood student-athletes, as well as a classroom and teaching facility for the Longwood physical education department. However, the renovations made possible by the Pomps' philanthropy elevate the center to the upper tier of Longwood's peer Division I institutions, both in functionality and as a recruiting tool for prospective student-athletes.
"I'd argue that between the Pomp Sports Performance Center and the Longwood Basketball Performance Center, our training facilities rival many that athletes will find at larger schools," Toburen added. "It gives us a competitive advantage in preparing our athletes, and it also showcases Longwood's commitment to pursuing athletics excellence."
The Pomp Sports Performance Center is the latest example of the longstanding philanthropic support the Pomps have shown their alma mater. The couple also endowed the Pomp Family Citizen Leader Scholarship and is an ongoing supporter of the Cormier Honors College, for which they fund the college's annual leadership retreat.
"Over the years, we've had the good fortune to give back to Longwood in places that have been exciting for us," said Brad Pomp. "Trey Eggleston and Tim Hall came to us with a vision about this space and asked us to participate and be part of this. Ultimately we couldn't be more excited about where this space is and how it reinforces the commitment that Longwood is making to student-athletes here today and beyond."
First meeting at Longwood as undergraduates, Brad and Shannon Pomp fully immersed themselves in campus life and quickly took on numerous leadership roles among their peers. Brad was one of the original seven founders of Princeps, an honorary organization that promotes leadership among fellow students. Also president of both the Class of 1992 and the Student Government Association (SGA), and a Longwood Ambassador, he has grown Sentry Management into a respected nationwide community association management company.
Meanwhile, Shannon was also a member of SGA, Vice President of the Class of 1993, a Longwood Ambassador, and a co-teacher of a freshman seminar alongside faculty member Dr. James Crowl — all while beginning her career as an educator. She went on to teach in Seminole County Public Schools and was twice awarded Teacher of the Year.
Now the facility where generations of Longwood student-athletes will train physically and mentally, forge team bonds, and put in hours of grueling work in pursuit of championships will forever bear their name.
"When we were putting together some things for Princeps, the phrase 'To lead is to serve' came up," Brad Pomp said. "As I've been able to grow in my leadership roles, I understand that even more now than I did then. You have not only an opportunity but a responsibility to serve others. For me, that's become what leadership is."
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