October 25, 2023, was a good day for Neumann University. On that date, Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education announced a $15 million challenge grant to support the construction of the Ed Snider Ice Arena on campus. More than 150 people visited campus to celebrate the news at a reception in the Bayada Atrium.

We have two years to raise an additional $15 million to secure the grant, and we are confident that we will meet this challenge.

The arena will be the most tangible result of this partnership, but it is not the most significant. The collaboration with SNIDER will benefit Neumann in many ways.

It will assist in recruiting students and maintaining a consistent enrollment level at a time when the number of high school graduates in the region is declining. We will be the only NCAA Division III college in the region with on-campus rinks.

The partnership will provide opportunities for student involvement in SNIDER educational programs on our campus. Two classrooms and office space in the arena will be dedicated to SNIDER education, and one of the two rinks in the arena will be designated for its hockey activities.

"The presence of a major recreational arena on campus will create a host of new internship opportunities for our students."

Our business plan projections for the arena indicate that revenue from renting ice time will exceed operational expenses by several hundred thousand dollars each year. This revenue source can be used to support academic programs and student scholarships with the goal of increasing our retention and graduation rates.

The arena will even help the Aston community. Visiting players and their families who travel to Delaware County for weekend matches and regional tournaments will boost the local economy.

The cover story in this issue provides more details about the arena and the challenge grant. Please help us spread the word that the partnership with SNIDER is about more than a building.

Dr. Chris Everett Domes
President