Tyler Junior College held a grand opening ceremony on Monday for a new community disc golf course.
The 18-hole, par-56 course is located at the Apache Recreational Complex, at the corner of Devine Street and Tipton Avenue, on the TJC main campus.
From left: Dr. Juan E. Mejia, TJC president and CEO; Alex Mejia; Diandre Jones, TJC Apache Recreation Center student assistant; and Heath Stoner, TJC director of the Apache Recreation Center and Summer Camps, look on as Adam Williams, TJC Apache Recreation Center manager, takes his shot on the course.
Before tossing the ceremonial first disc, TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia offered remarks to the 100-plus guests in attendance.
“One of our most powerful institutional values is unity, and we want this to be a place where the College community and the communities that we serve can come together to have fun, be engaged, and synergize,” Mejia said.
He continued, “Disc golf is one of the fastest growing sports and fortunately there is not a lot of cost involved to get started — all you need is a disc and some hydration, and you are ready to go. This disc golf course provides yet another wonderful opportunity for all of us to put our phones away for a moment and invest in others and ourselves, at our beautiful College.”
Mejia thanked in a most special way Sarah Van Cleef, TJC vice president for financial and administrative affairs, and her son, Zach Van Cleef, who initiated the idea of creating the course on campus. He also thanked on numerous occasions Paul Owen with Rose City Disc Club for his expertise, time and energy.
“Paul, we give a hearty round of applause to you, Sarah and Zach for coming together to make this a reality,” Mejia added.
Mitch Andrews, TJC vice president for institutional advancement, said, “In 2014, we were forging the western frontier of our main campus with the Rogers Nursing and Health Sciences Center, and now we turn to our eastern area to begin to develop a center of student activity, which gives us an opportunity to further engage our students and our communities to be involved on our campus.”
The TJC Disc Golf Task Force (from left): Barbara Greenbauer, director of major gifts; Sarah Van Cleef, vice president for financial and administrative affairs; Lauren Tyler, director of student life; Mark Gartman, director of facilities and construction; Dana Ballard, director of campus services; and Heath Stoner, director of the Apache Recreation Center and Summer Camps.
Andrews also introduced the TJC disc golf task force, including: Dana Ballard, director of campus services; Mark Gartman, director of facilities and construction; Barbara Greenbauer, director of major gifts; Heath Stoner, director of the Apache Recreation Center and Summer Camps; Lauren Tyler, director of student life.; and Sarah Van Cleef, vice president for financial and administrative affairs.
The course is open daily from dawn until dusk. It is free and open to the public.
For more information, go to TJC.edu/discgolf.