Tredyffrin Township Site Of New Military Academy Field

WAYNE, PA — Officials from Wayne's Valley Forge Military Academy and College celebrated the groundbreaking of a new athletic complex in Tredyffrin Township that will serve the Academy and Eastern University students.

Col. Stuart B. Helgeson, President of Valley Forge Military Academy and College (VMFAC), led the groundbreaking for the complex.

Helgeson said, "The goal is always to innovate and lead by example, and that is what we are doing with the new VMFAC sports complex."

Joining Helgeson was Eastern University President Dr. Ronald Matthews, and Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors Chair Murph Wysocki was also on-site for the groundbreaking.

The project was brought to fruition through a partnership between VFMAC and Eastern University, creating shared use for student-athletes of both institutions. Officials from both organizations celebrated the first phase of this partnership, which will improve the facilities for VFMAC's cadets while also becoming the home of the new Eastern University football program.

When complete, the facility will have a turf field, resurfaced track, bleachers, and press-box, and lacrosse field.

While construction timelines are subject to change, the goal is to have the outdoor facility available for use by the start of the 2022 spring semester, Academy officials said.

"This is only the first step of our strategic plan and vision," Helgeson explained. "We are grateful for the partnership with Eastern University and are thrilled that we will be able to offer first-class facilities to our cadet-athletes. Once this project is completed, we will immediately look to begin phase two of our sports complex upgrades, which will provide VFMAC and the surrounding community with much-needed sports and recreational fields and facilities."

In the photo accompanying this story, attendees at the groundbreaking are, left to right: Marianne Jimenez, Lt.Col. Tracey Hartley, Chuck Miller, MSG Josh Newton, Jordan MacMain, Jen Berry, LTC Josh Meyer, Mike Brock, Eric Saul, Col. Stuart Helgeson, Dr. Bob Smith, John English, Mike Muscella, Dr. Paul Lea, Elizabeth Boylan, Stephanie Helgeson, and George Else, all of Valley Forge Military Academy and College.

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