University of Vermont To Dedicate New Artificial Turf At Moulton Winder Field

Courtesy of UVM
Written by Lisa Champagne
October 7, 2005

BURLINGTON - The University of Vermont will formally dedicate its new artificial turf athletic field in a ceremony at the Archie Post Athletic Complex at 11:40 a.m. Sunday, October 9, prior to the field hockey game against the University of Maine.

The field will be known as the Moulton Winder Field in honor of Reynolds E. "Rey" Moulton, Jr. and Betsy Winder of Manchester, Massachusetts, whose $1 million gift to Vermont athletics financed a major portion of the construction. Winder is the mother of UVM sophomore and field hockey team member Stirling Winder and was herself a standout in field hockey during her student years at Lehigh University.

"When Stirling decided to go to UVM, we heard about the plans for a new artificial turf field and decided we wanted to help," Moulton said. Betsy Winder said she was impressed by Vermont when her daughter was looking at colleges but surprised that UVM did not have a better home field for field hockey as compared with other schools in the league. "You have to have a proper facility if you want to attract and retain the best student athletes," she said.

The new field will be the home for men's and women's lacrosse as well as field hockey. Construction began in the spring of 2004, and the field was ready for play at the opening of the current academic year.

Funding for the $2.6 million project is being provided entirely through private donors to the university's ongoing comprehensive campaign. Donors include former UVM student-athletes and other alumni as well as parents and friends of UVM athletics.

Future planned improvements to the Archie Post Athletic Complex include construction of a stadium for soccer with permanent seating for 4,000 spectators, a track-and-field complex, and space for concessions, picnicking, and restrooms.

Joining Moulton and Winder at the dedication and ribbon cutting will be governor Jim Douglas, UVM president Daniel Mark Fogel and Rachel Kahn-Fogel, trustees chair Carl Lisman '67, athletics director Robert Corran, and members of the varsity lacrosse and field hockey teams.